(Preview 11:45 AM EST)
Fresh off a bizarre and immensely entertaining 7-1 win over Washington yesterday, the Flyers (18-8-6) head up the turnpike to take on the New Jersey Devils (18-9-3). Philly will need to shift gears and play a patient and disciplined road game to beat the Devils.
The last time the clubs met, the Flyers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with a late game implosion. Patrik Elias tied the game late and then won it in overtime. The Flyers won the first two meetings of the season in October.
The Flyers may have staged a third-period comeback from a 5-1 deficit against Carolina and won big yesterday despite being outshot 25-6 in the first period. But you can expect a result more like the one in Montreal in Thursday if the Flyers do not come out ready to play today. Philly has played a lot of hockey this month and are playing on back-to-back days while the Devils were idle yesterday. Chasing the game today would be a recipe for losing.
With two more powerplay goals yesterday and a shorthanded tally, the Flyers added to their league-best special teams goal differential. However, the Flyers have by far done most of their powerplay damage at the Wachovia Center, where they are clicking at a staggering 35.4% success rate. New Jersey's special teams have been nothing to write home about, but the Devils have been superior to Philly at even strength this season.
Defenseman Randy Jones has been activated from his conditioning stint and could play today for the first time this season. With Glen Metropolit out with a lower body injury, the Flyers have called up Jon Kalinski.
Team comparisons
EVEN STRENGTH
5-on-5
Flyers 55 GF - 58 GA
Devils 67 GF - 45 GA
4-on-4
Flyers 5 GF - 9 GA
Devils 4 GF - 3 GA
SPECIAL TEAMS
Penalties per game
Flyers 28th NHL (3rd most penalized team)
Devils 14th NHL
Flyers powerplay
Overall - 27.1% (1st NHL)
Road - 13.7% (T-25th NHL)
0 Shorthanded goals allowed
Devils penalty kill
Overall - 80.2% (23rd NHL)
Home - 73.8% (28th NHL)
3 Shorthanded goals scored
Devils powerplay
Overall - 17.1% (20th NHL)
Home - 19.3% (13th NHL)
1 Shorthanded goal allowed
Flyers penalty kill
Overall - 84.1% (7th NHL)
Road - 84.4% (9th NHL)
13 shorthanded goals scored
Scoring First
Flyers 14-1-4
Devils 12-2-2
Opponent Scoring First
Flyers 4-7-2
Devils 6-7-1
Goals by period
1st period
Flyers 30 GF - 30 GA
Devils 24 GF - 18 GA
2nd period
Flyers 41 GF - 35 GA
Devils 36 GF - 32 GA
3rd period
Flyers 37 GF - 26 GA
Devils 29 GF - 27 GA
OT
Flyers 5 GF - 4 GA
Devils 4 GF - 1 GA
POTENTIAL LINEUPS (
subject to change)
Flyers
Gagne - Richards - Knuble
Hartnell - Carter - Lupul
Upshall - Kalinski - Asham
Cote - Powe - Gratton
Timonen - Väänänen
Coburn - Carle
Two of three among Jones, Alberts and Sbisa
Niittymäki
[Munroe]
Devils
Parise - Zajac - Langenbrunner
Elias - Zubrus - Gionta
Rolston - Holik - Clarkson
Pandolfo - Rupp - Brookbank
Martin - White
Oduya - Greene
Mottau - Leach
Clemmensen
[Weekes]
Contact Bill at
[email protected]
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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