Devils at Flyers
THE STORY: The Philadelphia Flyers began their recent hot streak by defeating the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 21. The 4-1 triumph in the Garden State ignited a 3-0-2 stretch for Peter Laviolette's club, which sits just three points behind the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers. The Flyers will look to maintain their recent mastery of the Devils when the two teams meet in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday afternoon. Philadelphia is 2-0-1 against New Jersey this season. Wayne Simmonds has fared well versus the Devils, scoring a goal and setting up two others in the teams' last outing. Simmonds also tallied twice in the Flyers' 4-1 victory over the streaking Nashville Predators on Thursday and sits one goal shy of matching his career high. For its part, New Jersey won its second straight after overcoming a pair of two-goal deficits to post a 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, MSG+, CSP
ABOUT THE DEVILS (28-19-3): Rookie D Adam Larsson exited Thursday's game versus the Montreal Canadiens with a bruised lower back. The fourth overall pick of the draft, Larsson was blasted by Montreal blue-liner P.K. Subban along the wall near the Canadiens' bench. The brutal - but legal - hit will sideline the 19-year-old Swede on Saturday.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (30-14-6): For all of the controversy - and strange comments about the universe - offseason acquisition G Ilya Bryzgalov has quietly fared well as of late. The Russian has yielded one goal in four of the Flyers' last five games. Philadelphia's power play unit has gotten untracked, scoring with the man advantage during each of game of the streak.
OVERTIME:
1. Devils veteran LW Patrik Elias was fined $2,500 for his boarding penalty on Montreal forward Mike Blunden. Although lighter in the wallet, Elias will do his best to continue to torment the Flyers. He has recorded 71 points (32 goals, 39 assists) in 73 career games versus Philadelphia.
2. G Martin Brodeur used to fluster the Flyers for years, but the future Hall of Famer has posted a 1-7-1 mark in his last nine starts against Philadelphia.