The Philadelphia Flyers (9-13-5) will make their return home tonight after a four game road trip. The Flyers went 1-1-1 in the state of California and dropped the fourth game in Columbus Tuesday night. Tonight they will host the New Jersey Devils (11-13-5). Game time is 7:00.
This is the second meeting of the season between these division rivals. New Jersey prevailed 6-4 in Philadelphia on October 9th. The Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a furios second period rally by the Flyers tied the game after two.
New Jersey would pull away late to defeat the Flyers. The Devils scored three third period goals including an empty netter to seal the deal.
The Flyers have recieved some better secondary support of late. Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn have both elevated their play to provide help for Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek.
Both Simmonds and Schenn have been streaky goal scorers so far in their careers. Both players seem to be on one of their hot streaks at the moment.
Philadelphia will need to continue to get other players going if they hope to get back into the playoff race. Matt Read has just two goals and six assists on the season. Read has not scored a goal since November 15th and has just one assist in his last 11 games.
Steve Mason will get the night off tonight for Philadelphia. Mason was the sole reason the Flyers managed to get three points in California. His play has gotten better with each game after a somewhat slow start to the regular season.
Ray Emery will start. Emery is 4-4-1 with .896 save percentage and a 3.28 goals against average. It also appears Luke Schenn will be back in the lineup tonight replacing Michael Del Zotto. Schenn has been a healty scratch the last two games.
New Jersey is led by the ageless wonder and former Flyer Jaromir Jagr. The 42 year old Jagr has 12 assists on the season and 17 points to lead the team in both categories. Newcomer Mike Cammalleri leads the team with 11 goals.
Core Schneider has started all but two of New Jersey's 29 games this season. he is 11-2-3 with a 2.50 goals against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts.
The Devils enter tonight four points ahead of Philadelphia in the standings, fifth in the Metropolitan division. New Jersey has won just two of their last seven games.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (4th, 2nd at home), Devils (9th, 10th on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 14th at home), Kings (28thy, 19th on road)
- This is the second of four meetings between the teams and final matchup in Philadelphia. They will play twice in New Jersey on January 3rd and conclude the season series on March 8th.
Flyers scratches: Vincent Lecavalier, Carlo Colaiacovo, Luke Schenn
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Brayden Schenn-Scott Laughton-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: R.J. Umberger-Sean Couturier-Matt Read
Line 4:Zac Rinaldo–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Chris VandeVelde
D-Pair 1: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 2: Braydon Coburn-Nick Schultz
D-Pair 3:Andrew MacDonald-Luke Schenn
Goalie: Ray Emery
Where to Watch
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Bill Minchin is a contruibuting writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
