New Jersey Devils: 5 Things To Watch In Third Week Of Season

4. Nolan Vs. Nico

This matchup will always be fun. Nolan Patrick makes his return to the Philadelphia Flyers just in time to face the player that was taken in his place. Patrick was the sure-fire first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft for a full year. That year was full of injuries and less-than-stellar play, allowing Nico Hischier to surpass him. They will be linked forever now.

These two will always be linked because of the meteoric rise of Hischier, the natural Devils-Flyers rivalry and the fact it went down to the wire about who was getting taken first overall. There’s a reason there isn’t a real rivalry between Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. Eichel was always the second-overall pick. In 2017, we didn’t know until the name was called.

Patrick is coming off an upper-body injury. He was hurt about a week ago, but he’s expected to play after practicing this week. He may be a little weaker than usual, but he’ll bring it for this matchup.

The Flyers are off to a rough start, but they are not in a terrible spot. Still, you don’t want to start losing these divisional games. Giving away two points to the Devils, who already started the year hot, isn’t a good idea. Patrick will need to be at his best to help the Flyers along. Hischier has to provide a little magic himself.