Despite Late Push, Devils Fall 5-4 to Flyers | GAME STORY

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Despite a push in the final ten minutes of regulation, the New Jersey Devils came up short and fell 5-4 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Kevin Labanc continued his scoring streak and had a hat trick in the loss while Ryan Schmelzer had the Devils' other goal.

"They pushed hard every game," Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen shared about his team. "I think at the beginning of the game we were a little sleepy there for a period and a half and then we started to pick things up. It's been an emotional time and a lot of hard conversations post game. So at the end of it, you walk out of here feling pretty good about the group."

The Flyers got on the board early, when Olle Lycksell scored, capitalizing on a loose puck netfront. The Devils got their first goal of the game halfway through the opening frame, Ryan Schmelzer’s one-timer got past Ivan Fedotov, tying the game at 1-1. Mikael Diotte and Jack Malone picked up assists on the goal.

A minute later, the Devils were close to scoring their second of the period when Schmelzer and Kevin Labanc raced in on a 2-on-1; however, Labanc’s shot went high and New Jersey was unable to capitalize.

There were two fights in the first period, the first two and a half minutes in when Samuel Laberge squared off with Sawyer Boulton. The second was four and a half minutes later when Nathan Légaré and Hunter MacDonald dropped the gloves.

Daniil Misyul was called for delay of game in the opening minute of the second period and the Devils penally kill went to work. Halfway through the penalty, Poulter came up with another big save, on a breakaway, to keep the Flyers from scoring a power play goal. However, 15 seconds later Jon-Randall Avon's power play goal gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead.

Mike Hardman's goal tied things up with eight and a half minutes left in the middle frame; however, it was determined the Devils were offsides and the goal was taken back. In the final 1:24 of the second period, New Jersey tied the game up when Kevin Labanc scored his fourth goal this preseason. The Flyers responded quickly, 16 seconds later, when Emil Andrae’s goal gave Philadelphia back their lead, this time 3-2.

Early in the third period, Légaré was sent to the box for hooking and the Flyers took advantage. Anthony Richard’s goal 26 seconds into the power play allowed the home team to increase their lead to 4-2.

In the final 11 minutes of the third period, the Devils caught a break when they drew two penalties, giving them a 5-on-3 advantage for 53 seconds. Labanc, off a feed from Dowling, scored his second of the game to bring New Jersey within one. The goal was Labanc's fifth goal this preseason.

With 1:55 left in regulation, the Devils were called for two many men and went back on the penalty kill. Philadelphia took advantage of the man-advantage once again. Noah Cates' goal increased their lead to 5-3.

Kevin Labanc's third goal, scored with 10 seconds left, got the Devils within 1; however, there was not enough time for New Jersey to find the equalizer. The Devils fell, 5-4, to wrap their preseason slate.

"It was a valiant effort from all the guys," Labanc shared post-game. "It's been a great training camp and it was a great fight by Laberge. I think it was resilient right to the last little bit. It was a good game, it was fun to be a part of. We just came short but a lot to look forward to."

"Just the 'never say die' mentality," Schmelzer explained about his team's third period push. "That's something we preach. Just stick with it. Don't get too distracted wiht how the game's going, just stick with our mentality that we always have. Last couple of games here we were able to claw back, obviously on the wrong side of it, but overall it's good to see our group get that experience and just keep pushing the way we did."

Here are some observations from the game:

•Isaac Poulter got his second straight start for the Devils after playing 40 minutes against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. After giving up a goal off a loose puck net front, the Devils netminder quickly bounced back, making huge saves in the first period to keep the Flyers from scoring on any more of their opportunities. Throughout the game, Poulter delivered and showed strong lateral movement and quick reaction times. Poulter played 59:29 and finished with 24 saves on 29 shots. He's a young goaltender who is on a path to keep learning.

"Poulter is a guy that takes the game so seriously," Dineen shared about Poulter. "He's a real professional at his craft and wants to become such a good player. I thought he was just ok at different times and saying that he also had some big moments there. We have no doubt that he can be a real good asset for our team in Utica. That's the expectation for him right now, to go down and really establish himself in the American Hockey League and keep developing and keep striving to get to the next level."

"He's always solid every time," Schmelzer shared on Poulter. "You know he's back there. When we put him in net we know he's got our back when there are breakdowns and obviously we left him out to dry a couple too many times there. But you know nothing but confidence when he's back there."

•On a professional tryout contract, Kevin Labanc had an opportunity to show why he deserves a contract. Through his final three preseason games, he scored six goals, and had a hat trick tonight. He was a big part of the Devils power play and scored half of his goals on the man-advantage.

"Well I knew the player," Dineen explained about Labanc. "When a guy, you learned, earned a reputation because (they're) a playoff performer, I think that speaks highly of you. That's April, May hockey and he certainly showed it in September."

"That's why they call him 'money in the bank,'" Schmelzer said about his teammate's performance. "He's all over it every game. You look at it, his fingerprints are on it. He had a really good show and was huge for us. Pretty much carried us in these games so good for him to do that."

•Cam Squires got his chance to play his first preseason against the Flyers. He played 13:04, had an assist on Labanc's third goal, and recorded a shot.

"It was great," Labanc said about Squires. "He did everything that he should do and he did everything right. It's always fun playing in your first preseason game. Not an easy building to play in. They had a lot of great players out there and he showed up and he did well. He held his own."

That's a wrap on the Devils preseason schedule and training camp. New Jersey will start the regular season Friday against the Buffalo Sabres with their Global Series game.