DAB Pregame: Battle Of Turnpike Resumes as Devils Host Flyers

Zajac lines up against Couturier for a faceoff

Devils look to end struggles today.- Photo Credit to Bill Streicher of USA Today Sports

Overview

The New Jersey Devils are back in action this afternoon against one of their biggest rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. To put it lightly, both teams are in the middle of very disappointing seasons at the moment. This is the third time these two teams meet this season, the first one at the Prudential Center. The teams split the previous two matchups.

Lineups

Philadelphia Flyers

van Riemsdyk/Giroux/Konecny
Lindblom/Couturier/Voracek
Laughton/Patrick/Simmonds
Raffl/Varone/Weise

Provorov/Sanheim
Gostisbehere/Gudas
Hagg/Folin

Hart

New Jersey Devils

Johansson/Hischier/Palmieri
Bratt/Zajac/Wood
Coleman/Zacha/Stafford
Boyle/Seney/Noesen

Butcher/Vatanen
Greene/Severson
Mueller/Lovejoy

Blackwood

Players to watch

Blake Coleman… Coleman is one of the bright spots to this downfall of a season for the Devils. He is on pace to finish the season with around 25 goals, which would be a career high. He’s had some pretty big moments this season, and I can see him making a big impact in the game today. He can be an asset at five-on-five, the power play and penalty kill.

Carter Hart… Today, we are looking at the Flyers goalie to watch. Hart is one of seven goalies to suit up for the Flyers this season, and it has not been easy for them between the injuries and poor performances. But they will turn to Hart and hope he has a big impact in keeping the Devils off the score sheet. He is 3-4-1 in the eight games he has played with a .920 save percentage and a 2.46 GAA. Those numbers are actually one of the better ones amongst the Flyers netminders.

Prediction

This has been the Devils best chance to win a game in quite some time. Even though it has only been a three-game losing streak, Jan. 4 feels like a long time ago. But the Flyers are in just as bad of shape if not worse. I’ll take the Devils to win today by a score of 4-2.

When/Where to Watch

1:00 PM on MSG+, NBCSP (Philly Area), NHL Network (Out of Market)

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