Flyers-Devils: Game 50 Preview

Kevin Durso

April 29 2021

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

Thursday's game for the Flyers comes coupled with the news that Carter Hart is done for the season. With where the Flyers are, it's only fitting the announcement came on this day.

As the Flyers face the Devils for the third time this week, a loss of any kind by the Flyers and a win of any kind by the Boston Bruins against the Buffalo Sabres will officially eliminate the Flyers from playoff contention.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	New Jersey Devils	GP	G	A	P
James van Riemsdyk	49	16	23	39	Pavel Zacha	43	12	16	28
Jake Voracek	46	9	29	38	Jack Hughes	49	11	16	27
Claude Giroux	47	14	22	36	Jesper Bratt	39	5	21	26
Sean Couturier	38	14	21	35	Miles Wood	49	17	8	25
Joel Farabee	48	15	16	31	Yegor Sharangovich	47	12	12	24

In this series with the Devils, Claude Giroux has scored three goals. Giroux has been at the center of many third-period rallies this season, and continues to put up points even with the season in the final stages.

Pavel Zacha now has goals in back-to-back games against the Flyers. He also had a two-point game on Tuesday.

Alex Lyon makes his third start of the season and fourth appearance. In his last start, Lyon made 20 saves on 24 shots.

Mackenzie Blackwood finally snapped his long losing streak on Tuesday, despite allowing four goals. Blackwood makes his third straight start in the four-game series between the two teams this week.

Projected Lineups

Flyers Scratches: Shayne Gostisbehere (injury), Nicolas Aube-Kubel (healthy)

Devils Scratches: Andreas Johnsson (injury), Matt Tennyson (injury), P.K. Subban (COVID protocol), Jonas Siegenthaler (COVID protocol), Marian Studenic (healthy), Jesper Boqvist (healthy), Aaron Dell (healthy)

Lineup Notes

Flyers: Egor Zamula was sent to the taxi squad following Tuesday's game. There is still a chance he could return from the taxi squad for this game, but if not, Sam Morin will be back in the lineup.
Devils: Only one change to the lineup for the Devils. Matt Tennyson is out with an injury, so Kevin Bahl will make his NHL debut.

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (21st), Devils (29th)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th), Devils (31st)
Recent History vs. Devils
- Jan. 26, 2021 – Flyers 5, Devils 3 (at NJ)
- Jan. 28, 2021 – Flyers 3, Devils 1 (at NJ)
- March 23, 2021 – Devils 4, Flyers 3 (at PHI)
- April 25, 2021 – Flyers 4, Devils 3 (F/SO) (at PHI)
- April 27, 2021 – Devils 6, Flyers 4 (at NJ)
Flyers Leaders vs. Devils
- Claude Giroux – 56 GP, 15 G, 38 A, 53 P
- James van Riemsdyk – 39 GP, 16 G, 15 A, 31 P
- Jake Voracek – 46 GP, 7 G, 29 A, 36 P
- Alex Lyon – 2 GP, 0-1-0, 4.05 GAA, .792 SV%
Milestone Watch
- Claude Giroux needs two power-play goals to pass Eric Lindros for 8th all-time in Flyers history.
- Kevin Hayes plays in his 500th NHL game tonight.
- Kevin Hayes needs three points to reach 300 for his career.