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Flyers Gameday: 1/12/19 @ NJD

January 12, 2019, 7:38 AM ET [272 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Game 45 Preview: FLYERS @ DEVILS

Interim head coach Scott Gordon's Philadelphia Flyers (16-22-6) are in Newark on Saturday to take on John Hynes' New Jersey Devils (16-20-7). Game time at the Prudential Center is 1:00 p.m. ET.

The game will be televised on NBCSP. The radio broadcast can be found on 97.5 FM The Fanatic with an online simulcast at FlyersRadio247.com.

This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season, and the first of two at the Rock. The Flyers skated to a 5-2 win at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 20 and then got shut out, 3-0, at home on Nov.15 (a game that saw the Flyers hit the post five times, including four times in the first period).

Flyers Outlook

The Flyers snapped an eight-game winless streak (0-6-2) on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Dallas Stars. James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist for Philly, while Travis Konecny got Philly on the board first after a scoreless first period. Carter Hart was outstanding in goal, making 37 saves.
Jakub Voracek scored for the Flyers in a 1-1 first period.

With the Ottawa Senators also winning on Thursday, the Flyers remain in last place in the Eastern Conference. Leaguewide, only the LA Kings have fewer points than Philly.

Hart will get the start in goal in Newark, per Gordon after Friday's practice. Team captain Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier took a semi-maintenance day, skating with the team but not participating in line rushes. The same lineup from the Dallas game is expected to start in Newark.

On Friday afternoon, the Flyers traded center Jordan Weal to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2009 sixth-round pick and ECHL/AHL defenseman Jacob Graves.

Devils Outlook

The Devils bring an 11-5-4 home record into Saturday's tilt; it has been on the road (5-15-3) where most of the team's worst struggles have unfolded. Overall, the Devils have lost three games in a row in regulation, and are 1-3-1 thus far in January with the lone win coming via shootout in Arizona.

On Thursday, the Devils returned home from their road trip to take on the powerhouse Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey found itself in a 3-0 hole by the first intermission and went on to lose, 4-2. In a losing cause, Blake Coleman (14th) and Brian Boyle (12th) scored second period goals to get the Devils back within 3-2. Toronto dominated the third period, outshooting New Jersey by a 14-3 margin, and tacking on a late empty net goal for insurance.

New Jersey is an injury-riddled hockey team. Most notably, reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall has been on IR since Dec. 26 with a lower-body injury. He could return within the next week but is definitely out for Saturday. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, on IR since Jan. 4 with a lower-body injury, is about ready to be activated and is questionable for Saturday.

Projected Lines (Subject to change)

FLYERS

25 James van Riemsdyk- 28 Claude Giroux - 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom - 14 Sean Couturier - 93 Jakub Voracek
21 Scott Laughton - 19 Nolan Patrick -17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 44 Phil Varone - 22 Dale Weise

9 Ivan Provorov - 6 Travis Sanheim
53 Shayne Gostisbehere - 3 Radko Gudas
8 Robert Hägg - 26 Christian Folin

79 Carter Hart
[56 Mike McKenna]

Scratches: 15 Jori Lehterä (healthy), 47 Andrew MacDonald (lower body), 41 Anthony Stolarz (IR, lower body), 30 Michal Neuvirth (IR, lower body), 37 Brian Elliott (IR, lower body), 10 Corban Knight (IR, collarbone), 5 Sam Morin (ACL surgery).

DEVILS

90 Marcus Johansson - 13 Nico Hischier - 21 Kyle Palmieri
44 Miles Wood - 19 Travis Zajac - 20 Blake Coleman
63 Jesper Bratt - 37 Pavel Zacha - 18 Drew Stafford
11 Brian Boyle - 43 Brett Seney - 56 Blake Pietila

6 Andy Greene -28 Damon Severson
45 Sami Vatanen - 8 Will Butcher
25 Mirco Mueller - 12 Ben Lovejoy

29 Mackenzie Blackwood
[1 Keith Kinkaid]

Scratches: 23 Stefan Noesen (healthy), 16 Steve Santini (healthy), 74 Egor Yakovlev (healthy),
58 Kevin Rooney (healthy), 9 Taylor Hall (IR, lower body), 35 Cory Schneider (IR, core muscle strain), 49 Joey Anderson (IR, ankle).
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