NEWARK, N.J. - Devils coach Pete DeBoer makes no pretense about Sunday nights Game 4 against the Flyers.
Hes heard the Flyers chatter that this will a different group of Flyers that show up at Prudential Center and not the same cast that has looked disinterested and lethargic while being down 2-1 in this Eastern Conference Semifinal series.
He knows this game figures to be a lot more feisty, especially, with Zac Rinaldo possibly filling in for Sean Couturier. When the Flyers took the ice for practice, Couturier was skating and looked fine, so Rinaldo might not crack the lineup for Game 4.
We know that is part of their identity and we have to stay away from that stuff, DeBoer said. At the same time, we havent taken a step back physically. I think the puck battles, the board battles and net front battles, thats the type of fights were interested in.
From New Jerseys standpoint, its all about sticking with the program and not getting into a run n gun style with the Flyers, who played that so successfully against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Absolutely, DeBoer said. You just have to watch the tape of the Pittsburgh series and see why they had success.
They had success because it was open ice, there were odd man rushes, and they had a ton of power play opportunities. Those are some of the areas we obviously dont even want to go there with them.
NHL
DeBoer made his comments Sunday morning at the Devils skate about 45 minutes before the Flyers were to hit the ice.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net