New Jersey Devils: Beating Philadelphia Flyers Would Mean A Lot

The New Jersey Devils have gotten off to a 3-1-1 start this season. That is so much better than most thought going into the season. They have earned at least one win against every opponent that they have played so far. There are some players who deserve extra credit for lifting this team above water but it is clear that they are an up and coming team. Now, they have another big test with the Philadelphia Flyers coming to town for two games.

The New Jersey Devils would get a major spark if they get through the Philadelphia Flyers.

After a big win over the New York Islanders, they showed that they can come back from a bad loss and beat the team who did that to them. Players like Jack Hughes, Ty Smith, Mackenzie Blackwood, Yegor Sharangovich, and Miles Wood amongst others have all chipped in and executed their role to the best of their ability to have these starts. We don’t know when we will see Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, or Sami Vatanen in the lineup but we hope it’s soon.

The Devils have also used Scott Wedgewood in net for the past two games. Mackenzie Blackwood has been one of the best goalies in the league but he is on the NHL’s COVID-19 list right now. There is a chance that the Philadelphia Flyers have to deal with him in one of the two games but it is nice to know that they might be able to win games with another goalie in the net.

In order to beat the Flyers, the Devils are going to need their best effort. Even though they have struggled over the past few games, they are a team that is good enough to win the Stanley Cup. Their goaltender, Carter Hart, is one of the best young goalies in the league. He has had a rough start but he will find his way. Brian Elliot is the confirmed starter for Tuesday night but you can expect to see Hart on Thursday.

Nikita Gusev and Pavel Zacha finally got going in their last game against the Islanders. If they are able to contribute the way that the aforementioned players have, this team could get really good once they are fully healthy. They are not going to be a Stanley Cup contender anytime this year but the development is clearly starting to show. Those that have stayed patient and trusted the idea of development are going to be rewarded really soon.

At 3-1-1, a two-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers is a big test. Let’s pretend they win both and become 5-1-1, that is 11 points banked that nobody would have expected them to have after seven games. You could start to see the making of a young playoff team if that happens. It isn’t a guarantee and it shouldn’t even be expected because the Flyers are great. However, it should be expected that they can stay in the games and prove they belong.

If they don’t collect four points, that is okay. What wouldn’t be okay is a game like last Thursday against the Islanders. The Devils have played well against teams the second time seeing them so Thursday should be really fun. It has been said all season long that development is the most important thing and we have seen a lot of that this year. Brace yourself for some fun hockey.