Devils Game Preview: New Jersey Visits Flyers in Metropolitan Division Mathchup

The New Jersey Devils probably would like to avoid running into any bullies with all the injuries they’ve sustained thus far. However, they can’t avoid the Broad Street Bullies tonight as they’ll face the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

The Devils earned back-to-back wins on Saturday and Tuesday, the first time since Oct. 29th and Nov. 3rd. They’re hoping to continue to build on that momentum against a Flyers team that’s caught most by surprise as one of the better teams in the Metropolitan Division so far this season.

Let’s dive into the Devils’ game with the Flyers tonight.

How to Watch

Time: 7:00 PM      Watch/Stream: MSGSN/MSG+      Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Projected Devils Lineup

Forwards

Ondrej Palat – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

Tyler Toffoli – Jack Hughes – Dawson Mercer

Alexander Holtz – Michael McLeod – Curtis Lazar

Samuel Laberge – Chris Tierney – Nathan Bastian

Defensemen

Jonas Siegenthaler – Luke Hughes

Kevin Bahl – John Marino

Brendan Smith – Colin Miller

Goaltenders

Akira Schmid

Vitek Vanecek

Projected Flyers Lineup

Forwards

Tyson Foerster – Sean Couturier – Travis Konecny

Owen Tippett – Scott Laughton – Cam Atkinson

Owen Tippet – Morgan Frost – Bobby Brink

Nic Deslauriers – Ryan Poehling – Garnet Hathaway

Defensemen

Cam York – Travis Sanheim

Nick Seeler – Sean Walker

Egor Zamula – Rasmus Ristolainen

Goaltenders

Carter Hart

Sam Ersson

Last Game

The Devils and New York Islanders battled in one of the sloppier games of the season for both teams on Tuesday. After exchanging first-period goals on the sticks of Bo Horvat and Michael McLeod, the Islanders took over in the second period out-scoring the Devils 3-1 in the middle frame on goals by Dawson Mercer for New Jersey and Mathew Barzal, Cal Clutterbuck, and JG Pageau for the Islanders. However, the Devils battled back with three goals themselves in the third period by Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Curtis Lazar.

Vitek Vanecek was pulled just over halfway through the contest giving up four goals on 18 shots. Akira Schmid was perfect in relief, stopping all eight pucks he faced.

Player to Watch

Captain Nico Hischier has potted two goals and an assist in two games since being lifted from injured reserve. Hischier’s return made an immediate impact on the Devils’ lineup as New Jersey holds a 2-0 record since his return and are 6-2-1 with him in the lineup this season. Hischier’s career success is just shy of a point per game against the Flyers. In 19 career games against Philadelphia, Hischier scored six goals and nine assists for 15 points.

Devils vs. Flyers

According to Devils PR, “The Devils and Philadelphia face-off for the first of four matchups this season:

Dec. 19, vs PHI
Feb. 17, vs PHI
Apr. 13, at PHI

The Devils were 2-2-0 against the Flyers last season and outscored the Broad Street Bullies 13-9. The Devils also defeated Philadelphia 7-0 on Feb. 25, 2023, at the Rock.

ALL-TIME vs PHI

Record: 122-116-18-8
Home: 75-45-8-4
Road: 47-71-10-4

SINCE 1982-83…

The most goals that the Devils earned in a single game vs Philadelphia was seven (8 times), and last earned that goal total on Feb. 25, 2023, at the Rock in a 7-0 win.

The most goals that the team allowed against Philadelphia in a game was eight (3 times), and was last logged on Jan. 11, 1986, after a 8-4 loss at the Meadowlands.

The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs Philly was 49, which was logged on Dec. 15, 2022, in a 2-1 loss at the Rock.

The most shots that the Devils allowed against Philly was 46, after a 5-0 win on Feb. 6, 2020, at the City of Brotherly Love.

The last time that the Devils shut out Philly was on Feb. 25, 2023, in a 7-0 win (A. Schmid, 23 saves).

The last time Philly shut out the Devils was on Oct. 9, 2019, after a 4-0 loss at Philly (C. Hart, 25 saves).

The Devils and Philadelphia met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times, while Jersey eliminated the Flyers three times:

2011-12, 4-1
1999-00, 4-3
1994-95, 4-2″

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Fri. Dec. 1, vs SJS, 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Tue. Dec. 5, at VAN, 10:00 P.M. E.T.
Thu. Nov. 7, at SEA, 10:30 P.M. E.T.
Sat. Nov. 9, at CGY, 4:00 P.M. E.T.

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