The sporting world's gaze is trained on the final football game of the NFL season, which kicks off tomorrow night in Indianapolis, and, alas, includes little in the way of rooting interests for Philadelphia fans. But, in addition to some Sixers action (not the best start to the weekend last night), the Flyers have a pair of divisional games this weekend, with each holding some pretty exciting mid-afternoon potential.
First up is a tilt with the Jersey Devils at the Wells Fargo Center, followed by a trip up to the Garden tomorrow. Let's get a quick look at the matchup with the Devils, who may or may not be for real in the Atlantic.
The Jerz come to town having won their last two, including a shootout W over the Rangers and a 5-3 picking of the Canadiens, both at home. Those wins followed a stretch of three losses, including the 4-1 defeat to the Flyers a week ago today.
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They're in the middle of a pretty tough stretch of games, though haven't played on the road since January 14th. Tomorrow, they host the Penguins, then visit the Rangers. Pretty exciting time of year, with the Atlantic being a very competitive space and lots of divisional games on the schedule.
Through three matchups, the Flyers are 2-0-1 against the Devils this season. Wayne Simmonds has been heating up lately, and he's been an exorcist against Jersey, with two goals and two assists in three games, tied with Claude Giroux for the team lead. Scott Hartnell and Matt Read also have a pair of goals each against the Devils.
Sergei Bobrovsky will draw the start today, presumably followed by Ilya Bryzgalov against the Rags tomorrow.
The Devils will be without talented rookie blueliner Adam Larsson, who was leveled by Montreal's PK Subban on Thursday:
Katie Strang of ESPN says Adam Carter and Adam Henrique will also miss the game due to injury.
One stat that jumps off the page for the Devils? Their power play has surrendered 13 short-handed goals. Not that the Flyers should be eager to get the whistle-and-point, but if they do, maybe Cooter & Co. can make it 14. Also kinda interesting, NJD lead the league in short-handed goals scored as well, with 11. By comparison, the Flyers have scored and allowed four shorties apiece.
The Devils also sport the league's top PK percentage (89.6%).
Although no NHL team should be looked over in the classic "trap game" scenario, the Devils don't fit that mold anyway. They're a solid team with just two fewer wins than the Flyers. That's a bit inflated by their success in shootouts, but the Flyers have two big games this weekend, rather than an app and a main course.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Do you believe there is such a creature as the Jersey Devil?