Devils at Flyers
The slumping Philadelphia Flyers return from five days of rest - and soul searching - when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. The Flyers have dropped 11 of their last 14 contests (3-8-3) after a stunning 10-game winning streak and surrendered a total 19 goals in their final four matches before a “bye week."
“We care,” Philadelphia defenseman Michael Del Zotto told CSNPhilly.com. “No one likes losing. It’s not fun for anyone. But sometimes effort’s not enough. Everyone wants to win in this league. It’s a matter of execution. Whether it’s offensively or defensively in all situations, we’re not doing it.” Flyers general manager Ron Hextall told reporters it’s about “the whole group” playing better, but its problems start in the defensive end, where goaltenders Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth have been unable to plug all the leaks. New Jersey will try to extend Philadelphia's slide and make up some ground on its Metropolitan Division rival after seeing its three-game winning streak end with a 3-1 loss to Montreal on Friday. The Devils must rebound after managing a season-low 17 shots and allowing three power-play goals in the setback.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (New Jersey), TCN (Philadelphia)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (19-19-9): Cory Schneider, who owns a .936 save percentage in January, did not start and defenseman Jon Merrill sat out Friday’s game - both due to illness, which makes them questionable for Saturday. Blue-liner Steven Santini scored the only goal for New Jersey and Taylor Hall notched an assist to extend his point streak to five games. PA Parenteau recorded the other assist for the Devils and tops the team with 12 goals despite going without one for seven straight contests, while Hall (team-high 30 points) and Adam Henrique have 11 each.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (22-18-6): Philadelphia is third from the bottom of the league in goals-against average (3.13), and it isn’t just about 2016 Calder Trophy finalist Shayne Gostisbehere (minus-17 rating) struggling on the blue line. The Flyers’ top players also have cooled off offensively, with captain Claude Giroux going 11 games without a goal and leading scorer Jakub Voracek recording only two assists in his last five contests. Brayden Schenn was producing before the break with four goals in five games to push his season total to 15 – three behind team leader Wayne Simmonds.
OVERTIME
1. New Jersey captain Andy Greene (wrist) and C Vernon Fiddler (lower body) both have been skating and could return to the lineup soon.
2. Philadelphia RW Matt Read (lower body) missed the team's final two games before the break and is questionable for Saturday.
3. The Devils are 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings, including a 4-0 triumph on Dec. 22.