The Flyers have been an absolute rollercoaster of a team so far this season. We’ve seen their highs and lows all within the first 30 games this season. The inconsistency has been their Achilles’ Heel, especially against some of the tougher opponents. Nonetheless, they now find themselves on the outside looking in for the ultra-competitive final playoff spot.
Philadelphia will look to get back even for that coveted fourth playoff spot as they face off against the Devils in the third of eight meetings this season. Coverage will begin at 6 PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia, with puck drop slated for 7 pm. You can catch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia or NBCSN. In front of their home fans, the Flyers are -160 money line favorites with the over/under sitting at an even six goals.
Previous Meetings:
The Flyers have yet to lose to the Devils this season. In both games, they’ve done their fair share of scoring. Back on January 26, James van Riemsdyk set the tone for his remarkable season so far. The veteran netted two goals in the 5-3 victory.
Two days later, the Flyers kept their momentum. Nate Prosser made his Flyers’ debut and scored on his first shot as a member of Philadelphia. Fellow veterans Claude Giroux and Michael Raffl tallied goals of their own, leading the team to a 3-1 victory.
Players to Watch:
Flyers
The player to watch for the Flyers tonight is none other than Joel Farabee. After being practically invisible in the past few games, expect the youngster to make his presence known tonight. For his career, Young Beezy has two points in three games against New Jersey. Both of those points are goals, which have come in bunches for him this season. Physically, the Devils also play a slower game than the Islanders. Farabee should have a good game tonight both on and off the scoresheet.
Devils:
If you’ve ever watched a Flyers-Devils game and feel like it’s the Kyle Palmieri show, you aren’t wrong. Any time that these two teams face off, Palmieri always seems to bring his A-game. The 21 points in 20 career games against the Flyers is the most he has against a single opponent. Along with this, Palmieri is a veteran driving force that creates numerous opportunities for the youth around him. The Flyers will need to contain the winger tonight if they want to win this game.
Prediction:
Flyers’ Win
There are two sides to the coin for tonight’s game. On one side of things, the Flyers are 4-1 this season in the back half of back-to-back games this season, for a .800 points winning percentage. Playing the Islanders last night obviously puts the Flyers back into this scenario. The lack of rest hasn’t been a problem all year. Along with this, this is the first time the Devils are visiting Wells Fargo Center this season. The Philadelphia fans could play a role in this one as well.
However, the Devils have been streaking as of late. According to the “5 Things: Flyers’ v. Devils” article, the Devils have won three of their last four, earning points in four of their last five. This is a result of their 3-1-1 record. Expanding on this, seven of the Devils last nine games have been decided by one goal. Their defense has also gotten involved a lot, as a Devils defenseman has scored a goal in three of their last four games and have accounted for 13 points (3g-10a) in that five-game span.
The Flyers will need to ensure that their forwards are back-checking and leaving little to be desired by the Devils’ blue liners. Along with this, keeping a heavy forecheck of their own will be crucial to causing the youth of New Jersey’s lineup to make mistakes. I think the Flyers are in basically a must-win scenario and need to show their worth tonight.
It won’t be pretty, but the orange and black will come out on top by a final score of 4-2 tonight.
Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre
