Flyers at Devils
THE STORY: Two Atlantic Division rivals square off Sunday as the New Jersey Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers in the opener of their home-and-home series. New Jersey, which trails fifth-place Philadelphia by two points in the Eastern Conference, has won three straight and four of five. The Devils have allowed a total of four goals over their last five contests while scoring 16. They may have difficulty getting on the scoreboard Sunday if Ilya Bryzgalov makes his 12th consecutive start. Bryzgalov has posted two straight shutouts and three in four games as Philadelphia enters with a five-game winning streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE FLYERS (39-21-7): Offense has been at a minimum of late when Philadelphia is on the road. The Flyers have surrendered just one goal over their last three games away from home but have scored one or less in four of five road contests. In fact, with the exception of a four-goal outburst at Calgary on Feb. 25, Philadelphia has tallied only once during that five-game stretch. Bryzgalov, who enters with a scoreless streak of 136 minutes, 13 seconds, has gone 8-2-0 with a 1.97 goals-against average during his string of 11 straight starts.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (39-24-5): New Jersey has won each of its last two home games, allowing one goal in each contest. However, the Devils have been outscored 7-1 while losing both meetings with the Flyers this season at the Prudential Center. After going without a point in his first six games as a Devil, Marek Zidlicky has recorded a goal and two assists over his last two contests. Zidlicky's goal was the game-winner against the New York Islanders on Saturday as he cashed in during a power play just 14 seconds after David Clarkson had tied the match with 1:39 remaining in the third period. The late tallies were not the fastest two in franchise history as John Madden and Patrik Elias scored eight seconds apart on April 6, 2001 against Boston.
OVERTIME:
1. The Flyers are tied with Vancouver for the league lead in road victories with 22.
2. While New Jersey has won seven of nine against Atlantic Division rivals, Philadelphia has lost five of six meetings with divisional opponents.
3. The home team has won each of the first four meetings between the clubs this season.