The New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers face-off for the first of four straight meetings on Sunday evening at Wells Fargo Center. Sunday's contest is the fourth meeting between the rivals during the 2020-21 campaign.
You can watch on MSG+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network at 6 p.m. ET.
PRE-GAME STORY: Devils at Flyers 4.25.21
Devils and Flyers face off for the first of four straight meetings. First up Sunday night in Philadelphia.
![NJD PHI Apr25](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_ratio16_9-size20/f_auto/prd/mhmiaqv8bru3vtxyu9mk.jpg)
YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
PRE-GAME VIDEOS
Devils Minute with Amanda Stein
Pre-Game Media Availability with Head Coach Lindy Ruff
THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: NJD vs. PHI
Head-to-Head: NJD vs. PHI
Devils Player Stats
Flyers Player Stats
Media Game Notes
RECENT NEWS & BLOGS
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PROSPECT WATCH: Talvitie the Mystery Man
RECENT VIDEOS
POST-GAME REPORT: Amanda Stein wraps up Saturday's loss to Pittsburgh
Saturday's Post-Game Interviews:
Wood
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Blackwood
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Lindy Ruff
3-ON-3: Time to Prove Themselves
RWJBarnabas Health's Custom Goalie Masks:
Blackwood
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Dell
TV & RADIO
You can watch the game on MSG+
You can listen to tonight's game on the Devils Hockey Network.
INSIDE THE DEVILS
Check out the latest team coverage in our Inside the Devils Blog.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE DEVILS BLOG
PRE-GAME STORY
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - As the Devils search for their first win in nine contests, head coach Lindy Ruff looks to his team to build on the improved play Saturday afternoon.
"I expect a lot of what you saw yesterday where our compete was good, we paid attention to defending," Ruff said Sunday morning. "We know that (keeping the opponent) from high-quality opportunities was the foundation of our game early in the year and it has to be the foundation when we finish the year."
When it comes to a spark that could help the team win these games down the stretch, Ruff had some ideas on what could be the difference maker.
"I think that spark would be taking the lead," Ruff said. "How about if we got out and we took the lead. That we capitalized on an early opportunity and maybe create a little bit of doubt for the opposition. We were a team early in the year that we always got out, we got the lead, we got that first goal. It creates a lot of confidence for your club. You feel good about where you're at.
"But if it's not taking the lead, it's maybe coming out of a period tied. But I think the big spark would be taking the lead, getting on our toes and taking the lead."
LEARNING CURVE
Although the youngest team in the league struggles to find wins recently, it's not doomsday. In fact, the young players are learning hard lessons early on in their careers.
"It's a learning experience for our team right now. Trying to find ways to win, trying to find ways to play the right way," said goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood following Saturday's game. "We're going to take some steps, but we all have to do it together. So there's going to be some growing pains like you're seeing, but I think we're going to make some progress."
Alternate Captain Miles Wood explained the importance of the team's final games to these young players in a meeting held by Wood, captain Nico Hischier and alternate captain Damon Severson earlier this week.
"These last 10 games are a tryout for each player on this team. You can't take a game for granted here," Wood explained Saturday evening. "I basically said, this is a 10-game tryout, see what you can do here in the last 10 games."
Ruff expects all of his players, whether veteran or rookie, to show up in these final games of the 2020-21 campaign.
"Whether that's a young guy, whether that's an old guy, a veteran player, or a player that's been here two or three years," Ruff said. "Whatever system you're playing, whatever team you play for, you have to play that system well and I expect our guys to play that system well."
INJURY UPDATES
Ahead of tonight's game, Ruff gave updates on several key players missing from the lineup Saturday. Forward Janne Kuokkanen, who was hit with a puck in the hand, will be a game-time decision for the team after skating Sunday morning.
Defenseman Ty Smith, who suffered an upper-body injury on April 18, is progressing but is unlikely to play Sunday night.
"Ty is progressing, not as fast as we would have liked," Ruff said. "It's a situation that when he's ready to go, he will be able to play, but I don't believe he's available for today."
Ruff was impressed with goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood's return to the lineup Saturday, and said he could be looked to again today. However, the head coach does not reveal his starting goaltenders ahead of warmups.
PREVIEW
DEVILS (14-27-6) vs FLYERS (21-19-7)
TV: MSG+ at 6 p.m. ET
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Flyers meet for the first of four straight games. The first and fourth games are in Philadelphia while the Devils host the middle two. The Flyers lead the series, 2-1, however, the Devils won the most recent matchup on March 23, 4-3.
Devils Team Scope:
The Devils saw additional shifts in the lineup for its Saturday game against the Penguins. Forward Janne Kuokkanen did not play due to a hand injury from blocking a shot Thursday. Rookie Ty Smith is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Devils head coach Lindy Ruff was expecting the defenseman to rejoin the lineup this weekend, however he may not play until next week.
Defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler entered the COVID-19 protocol list Saturday and did not play against the Penguins. P.K. Subban and Mikhail Maltsev remain out for protocol reasons as well. With Siegenthaler out, the Devils called up Colton White from Binghamton. It was the defenseman's first call up this season.
The Devils did see the return of starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who missed two games due to an upper-body injury.
Forwards Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Pavel Zacha are co-points leaders for the team with 25 while forward Miles Wood continues to lead the team in goals with 15.
New Jersey looks to snap a nine-game losing streak against Philadelphia on Sunday. The team's last win was April 8 against Buffalo where the Devils won 6-3.
Flyers Team Scope:
The Flyers return to game action after a day off Saturday. Most recently, they played the New York Rangers in back-to-back contests where Philadelphia won the first, 3-2, but lost in the second 4-1.
James van Riemsdyk leads the Flyers with 37 points (16G-21A). The forward has three goals in his last five games. Flyers winger Jakub Voracek, who is second in points, leads the team with 26 assists.
Center Jackson Cates made his NHL debut for the Flyers on Friday. He had three shots on goal and won 62.5 percent of the face-offs he took.
Philadelphia continues to excel with face-offs this season with the fourth best wins percentage in the NHL (53.2%).
By The Numbers:
Devils forward Jack Hughes netted his 11th goal for the season off a rebound opportunity Saturday. The sophomore skater ranks second on the Devils for goals.
The Flyers continued their face-off wins against the Rangers on Friday. Philadelphia won 60 percent of the face-offs with Travis Konecny and James van Riemsdyk each winning 100 percent at the dot.
Injury Update:
Devils: Kuokkanen (hand), Maltsev (COVID-19 protocol), Siegenthaler (COVID-19 protocol), Smith (upper-body), Subban (COVID-19 protocol).
Flyers: Frost (IR), Hart