Overview
The New Jersey Devils (38-15-5) will play the Philadelphia Flyers (23-27-10) tonight at the Prudential Center. The Devils won their last game against the Kings 4-3 in an overtime thriller.
New Jersey has been riding high lately; they’ve won seven of their last ten games and are playing good hockey overall. They were on the verge of defeat against Los Angeles, but they managed to pull out the victory to stay hot. Now, they will look to keep the good times rolling against a struggling Philadelphia team in what should be an easy win.
The Devils are in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points, five points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes. The Flyers, on the other hand, are in the basement of the Metro at seventh place.
Lines and Pairings
Devils-
Forwards:
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Sharangovich-Hughes-Bratt
Palat-Boqvist-Bastian
Wood-McLeod-Zetterlund
Defense:
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Marino
Bahl-Severson
Goalies:
Schmid
Vanecek
* – Haula is sick and is a game-time decision.
Flyers –
Forwards:
Hayes-Laughton-Allison
Van Riemsdyk-Frost-Tippett
Lycksell-Cates-Farabee
Deslauriers-Brown-Braun
Defense:
Provorov-Sanheim
York-Ristolainen
Seeler-DeAngelo
Goalies:
Ersson
Hart
Keys to the Game
Mercer, Have Mercy!
Nobody has been as hot as Dawson Mercer as of late. The 21-year-old forward has seven goals and nine points over his last five games. He scored twice against the Kings, including the overtime winner mentioned above. Mercer has been a key piece all season – he hasn’t missed a game yet – and now he’s finally getting some recognition.
Schmid Gets the Nod
Per, morning skate, it appears that Akira Schmid is starting tonight. That’s right, after MacKenzie Blackwood’s injury, Schmid is the next man up.
Akira Schmid played nine games earlier this season when Blackwood was injured. He went 5-4-0 with a .919 save percentage and a 3.97 goals saved above expected (GSAx). He’s cooled off in the minors as of late, but still boasts a 10-6-3 record with a .908 save percentage. Look for Schmid to be a deciding factor tonight.
Tonight’s game can be seen on MSGSN at 7:00 P.M. EST.