Will Philadelphia Extend Streak or Will New Jersey Bounce Back?
Can Philadelphia Extend Their Winning Streak or Will New Jersey Bounce Back at Home?
The Philadelphia Flyers will clash with the New Jersey Devils once again on Wednesday night in the second part of their home-and-home series at the Prudential Center. Philadelphia emerged victorious in the first encounter, a 4-2 win on Monday, giving them the upper hand as they head into this pivotal Metropolitan Division matchup. Will the Flyers keep their momentum going, or can the Devils rally on their home ice? Let’s dive into the stats and analyze this exciting NHL showdown.
Flyers Look to Gain Ground in the Eastern Conference Playoff Race
After securing a 4-2 win against New Jersey, the Flyers are on a bit of a roll. The victory marked their sixth win in their last nine games, showing the team is gradually finding its rhythm. With a 23-22-6 record, Philadelphia sits tied for fifth in the Metropolitan Division, but they’re still a considerable 19 points behind the division-leading Capitals. More importantly, they’re 10 points behind New Jersey, who currently holds the final guaranteed playoff spot, and only three points away from the second wild card spot.
Offensively, the Flyers rank 16th in the league, averaging 2.96 goals per game. While they have struggled on the defensive end, ranking 27th in goals against (3.33 goals per game), their power play continues to disappoint, sitting at 28th in the NHL with a conversion rate of just 16.4%. The Flyers’ penalty kill ranks 19th in the league, successfully defending 78.5% of their shorthanded situations.
Philadelphia’s win over the Devils saw them jump to an early lead they never relinquished. In the first period, they held a slight advantage in shots, 9-8, and scored two quick goals from Bobby Brink and Joel Farabee. The Flyers would go on to secure the win after a dominant third period, despite being outshot 33-26. Samuel Ersson made 31 saves in the victory, but keep an eye on the starting goalie situation as Ivan Fedotov may be called up for this game.
New Jersey Devils Aim to Bounce Back on Home Ice
New Jersey will enter this game looking to bounce back after dropping the first game of their home-and-home series with Philadelphia. With a 28-18-6 record, the Devils currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division, trailing the Capitals by nine points. They have shown offensive firepower, ranking 12th in the league with 3.06 goals per game. However, their defense has been solid, ranking 5th in the NHL, allowing only 2.54 goals per game. Their power play is one of the best in the league, converting on 28.1% of their opportunities (2nd in the league), while their penalty kill ranks 5th with an 82.1% success rate.
Despite dominating the shot count (33-26) in the first matchup, New Jersey failed to make the most of their opportunities. They were outplayed early, falling behind 2-0 in the opening period, and could never fully recover. Dougie Hamilton’s late goal in the second period gave the Devils hope, but Timo Meier’s goal in the third period wasn’t enough to close the gap. Goaltender Jake Allen finished with 22 saves in the loss, and there is uncertainty regarding whether Allen or Isaac Poulter will start in net for this matchup.
Conclusion
The Flyers have shown resilience, but their inconsistency on defense makes it hard to trust them in a high-stakes game on the road. The Devils, meanwhile, will be eager to return to form at home. With their superior defense, stronger power play, and depth in scoring, New Jersey has the tools to bounce back. Expect the Devils to use their home ice advantage to their benefit and secure a crucial win against Philadelphia.
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