#2 New Jersey Devils (47-22-3, 97 pts) at #4 Philadelphia Flyers (39-22-10, 88 pts)
Wachovia Center - 7:00 PM EST - Philadelphia, PA
TV: Versus HD, TSN
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 205
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: In Lou We Trust
Beating two of your biggest rivals in two consecutive days is not an easy task. If the Flyers want any hopes of passing New Jersey for first place in the conference, it's a task they're going to have to complete.
Currently, the Flyers sit nine points back of first place New Jersey with one game in hand. A win tonight would put them seven points back, and winning that game in hand would put them five back. In the remaning nine games on the schedule, the Flyers would have to make up those five points. Impossible? No. Very, very tough? Yes.
But a win tonight keeps hope alive, and better yet, it keeps our confidence in this team up. They've been plagued by inconsistency seemingly since, well, December, and two wins on back to back days against Pittsburgh and New Jersey would really help to boost that confidence.
Perhaps it's reassuring that the Devils lost yesterday in Boston (4-1, in fact). But at the same time, it's not common that NJ loses two straight. They haven't done it since early January. But if the Flyers play like they did yesterday in Pittsburgh, they can beat the Devils.
Between the Pipes: Martin Biron will go again today for the Flyers. It's officially his job to lose. Personally, I don't think he'll be giving it up. He's been fantastic.
Brodeur is likely for the Devils, but not definite considering it's the second game of a back to back. The Devils have three days off after today, so it's definitely a possibilty he will go. At practice today, though, only three players skated. Kevin Weekes was one. We'll see at game time.
Questions To Answer
- The Flyers sucked last time out against the Devils. Is it a "versus NJ" thing?
- Can the offense break Brodeur?
- Can the PP step it up at home?
- Regardless of the outcome, is there a disappointing feeling after this game or a encouraging one?
7:00 PM. Go Flyers.