Flyers in search of answers against Devils
By Colin Newby
The Philadelphia Flyers (15-11-4, 34 points) will meet the New Jersey Devils (11-14-4, 26 points) on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers will turn to 22-year-old goaltender Carter Hart in search of answers amidst their continuing midseason slide.
Where They Stand
The Flyers showed minimal signs of improvement on Monday against the New York Islanders, but an overtime loss sunk them 4-7-1 in the disastrous month of March.
Sloppy defensive play and uninspired efforts continue to plague the Orange and Black. They still sit only two points out of a playoff spot, but team leaders like Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, and Jake Voracek need to acknowledge and address the fact that the clock is ticking on a turnaround.
The Devils sit in seventh place in the crowded East Division. Although they are a longshot for a playoff berth, they have played better hockey as of late. They enter the night having won three of their previous four games.
Poor play on special teams has devastated New Jersey this season. They sit dead last in the NHL in penalty killing percentage, allowing opposing power plays to score at a success rate just shy of 30%. Their power play currently ranks 28th in the league.
Storyline to Watch- History as Rivals
The downward trajectory of the New Jersey Devils franchise sometimes distracts Flyers fans from remembering the bitter rivalry that existed prior to the restructuring of the Atlantic Division after the 2011-12 season.
The Devils defeated the Flyers in playoff series en route to Stanley Cups in both 1995 and 2000, before adding another Cup in 2003.
Philadelphia fans will never forget the infamous series collapse in the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals when the Flyers career of former franchise centerpiece Eric Lindros came to an end due to a devastating hit from former Devils captain Scott Stevens in Game 7.
The Flyers got revenge with playoff series victories in 2004 and 2010 but lost to New Jersey again in the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Players to Watch
Flyers winger Oskar Lindblom has scored three goals in his last three games. Lindblom’s comeback efforts after battling cancer last season continue to inspire hockey fans all over the world. He even dropped the gloves on Saturday night in Long Island in an attempt to spark his seemingly defeated teammates in a 6-1 loss.
Hart has been the underlying face of the Flyers struggles in recent weeks. While the presumed franchise goalie of the future is not responsible for the consistent defensive breakdowns in front of him, he has to be better down the stretch if the Flyers expect to secure a playoff berth.
Hart saved 33 or 34 shots in one of his best efforts of the season in a 3-1 win over the Devils on Jan. 26th.
Although the Devils don’t boast elite NHL firepower, skilled players like P.K. Subban and Jack Hughes are more than capable of taking advantage of the types of defensive miscues that have become characteristic of this Flyers team.
Getting Set for Tonight
The Flyers currently sit as heavy favorites at -159 on the Moneyline, and the over/under is set at 6 (odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook).
The game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports and locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia with a 7 p.m. scheduled puck-drop.