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Devils Postgame

Special Teams Fail Devils; Another Injury in Loss to Flyers

The New Jersey Devils special teams fails against the Philadelphia Flyers, and they suffer another injury in the 4-2 loss.

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New Jersey Devils' Jake Allen, left, cannot block a goal by Philadelphia Flyers' Garnet Hathaway during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA—Not only were the New Jersey Devils minus their No.1 goaltender against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, but they were without their captain, too.



Devils forward Nico Hischier was returned to New Jersey to undergo further evaluation on an undisclosed injury on Monday. And to add insult to injury, Jack Hughes isn’t playing at 100%. Despite their ailments, New Jersey was tasked with the well-structured, John Tortorella-led Flyers.

READ: Devils Nico Hischier & Jack Hughes Update; Top AHL Scorer Recalled

Rasmus Ristolainen drew blood on Ondrej Palat at the 16:10 mark of the game, sending the Devils to an early four-minute power play. However, after the first unit sustained a little bit of pressure in the first minute, the second unit struggled to even find the offensive zone despite having the extra man. A sloppy and disjointed special teams couldn’t convert within the four-minute advantage, and the Devils and Flyers played on scoreless.

Curtis Lazar later went to the penalty box for tripping Scott Laughton just moments after the Devils’ failed four-minute advantage. The Flyers needed just five seconds, as Bobby Brink opened the scoring with a blast from the blueline for a 1-0 Philly lead. Just over 30 seconds later, Joel Farabee picked up a rebound created by Scott Laughton on a rush chance, and just barely pushed it over the New Jersey goal line to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.

The second period started where the first left off. Just under three minutes into the middle frame, the Flyers controlled the puck in the Devils’ end of the ice. After the puck cycled from below the goal line to the blueline, Cam York’s shot from the point was redirected by Garnet Hathaway and past Jake Allen, and the Flyers led 3-0.

At the midway point of the second period, Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler lined up Devils forward Nathan Bastian with a big hit at the Flyers blueline.

Dougie Hamilton came to the defense of Bastian, who headed straight to the Devils’ locker room and didn’t return to the contest.

Later in the third period, the Devils finally scored with just over a minute left to play in the period. Hamilton’s shot from the right circle was initially stopped by Sam Ersson. However, the shot went straight up in the air. Travis Sanheim attempted to swipe the puck from danger, but wound up putting the puck in the Flyers goal, which was credited to Hamilton to finally get the Devils on the board.

Allen did all he could to keep the Devils within striking distance. However, New Jersey’s power play came up short again in their lone third man advantage. Ersson sent the puck over the glass at the 7:28 mark of the final frame, yet, the Devils couldn’t convert.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe pulled Allen with over three minutes remaining in the third period down two goals. From the right circle, Timo Meier wired a one-time shot past Ersson to bring the Devils within a goal.

However, Laughton buried the empty-net goal to regain the Flyers’ two-goal lead.

Allen made 22 saves on 25 shots, and the Devils lost to the Flyers 4-2 in regulation.

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