Flyers Face Devils in Crucial Home-and-Home Series

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Philadelphia Flyers (22-22-6) will host the New Jersey Devils (28-18-6) on Monday evening at Wells Fargo Center, kicking off a home-and-home series. The game, set for 7:00 p.m. EST, will be televised on NBCSP, with radio coverage on 97.5 The Fanatic and an online simulcast on Flyers Radio 24/7. The teams will meet again on Wednesday at Prudential Center in Newark.

This matchup marks the second of three January meetings between the Flyers and Devils. On January 18, the Flyers secured a 2-1 victory in Newark, thanks to goals from Matvei Michkov and Bobby Brink. The season series will conclude on March 9 at Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers enter Monday’s game after a 5-0-1 stretch was halted by back-to-back losses to the New York Rangers (6-1) and New York Islanders (3-1). Meanwhile, the Devils have gone 2-1-0 since their last meeting with the Flyers, including a 5-1 win over the Boston Bruins and a 4-3 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens.

Key factors to watch in Monday’s game include shot suppression, as the Flyers blocked 33 shot attempts in their previous win over the Devils. Philadelphia leads the NHL with an average of 17.85 blocks per 60 minutes. However, the Flyers have struggled offensively in their last three games, scoring only one regulation goal in each contest.

Alternate captain Scott Laughton returns to the lineup after missing three games due to a personal matter. Laughton’s presence is expected to provide a boost to the team’s morale and performance. “You miss a guy like that around the room, he’s always a vocal presence and keeping things light,” said Owen Tippett. “To have him back, I think it’s a good boost for our group.”

In goal, Samuel Ersson is likely to start for the Flyers, while Jake Allen will take over primary duties for the Devils, as Jacob Markstrom is sidelined with a knee injury. The Flyers will need to contain New Jersey’s speed and transition game, particularly in the second period, where the Devils have outscored opponents 62-37 this season.

The Flyers’ lineup adjustments and power play strategies will also be under scrutiny, as head coach John Tortorella has experimented with line combinations in recent games. With the playoff race heating up, both teams are eager to secure crucial points in this divisional showdown.