The New Jersey Devils were 3-1-0 against the Flyers during the 2014-15 season. The trend continued in Wednesday's preseason game between the two teams.
After a solid first period, the Flyers played flat for the remaining two periods, failing to generate any offense on Devils backup Keith Kinkaid.
New Jersey claimed a 4-2 victory over the Flyers in the final preseason home game for the team this season.
The Devils took the early lead just three minutes into the game. A counter-rush by the Devils from their own zone allowed Josef Severson to find Tuomo Ruutu in front for an easy tip past Michal Neuvirth.
The Flyers would tie the game mid-way through the first at 9:01. Cycling the puck from the corner, Sam Gagner managed to get the puck back to the blue line for Michael Del Zotto, who took a shot that was deflected past Kinkaid by Chris Porter. For Porter, who was placed on waivers by the Flyers on Wednesday afternoon, it was his second goal of the preseason.
A 5-on-3 opportunity allowed the Flyers to take the lead. Another extensive show of passing around the zone allowed Wayne Simmonds to move into his familiar spot in front of the net. Claude Giroux found him and the tip on goal hit the post, banked off Kinkaid's pad and went in to put the Flyers in front at 15:15 of the first.
The Flyers did not score on the other half of the 5-on-3 or on another power play later in the period. On an early power play for the Devils in the second, they would tie the game as another good pass to the front of the net led to an easy tip. Kyle Palmieri connected with Adam Henrique for a power-play goal at 2:05.
The Devils took a late lead in the second. A shot in on Neuvirth sat in the crease and Travis Zajac was able to poke it into the net.
Jason LaBarbera stopped all eight shots he faced in relief of Neuvirth in the final 20 minutes.
The only goal of the third came in the final minute of play, as the Devils iced the game with an empty-net goal by Zajac.
The Flyers out-hit the Devils, 37-15, and out-shot them, 29-27. The Flyers were 1-for-3 on the power play, while New Jersey was 1-for-5.
The two teams also played the mandatory 3-on-3 overtime following the game. A turnover by LaBarbera allowed Jacob Josefson to walk in and score on an empty net with 1:33 remaining in the overtime.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
