In case you weren't aware, they're playing this one outdoors.
In their third meeting this season, the Flyers and Devils will face off at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ as part of the annual Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series festivities.
These teams have split the results in their previous two meetings—an overtime win apiece—with the Flyers emerging victorious wit in their most recent meeting on Dec. 19.
Hot on the Heels
The Flyers are coming into this game after taking a point in an OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Devils suffered a loss to the Los Angeles Kings (including this Travis Konecny-worthy chirping from Jack Hughes). The Devils, however, are still hunting for a playoff spot, currently sitting in the third Wild Card position, and only two points off of a spot.
In the Metro Division standings, the Devils are seven points behind the Flyers with two games in hand. While this game already held plenty of weight because of the division and geographic rivalry, the Devils will be particularly dangerous because of their intense pursuit of a playoff berth. Led in offense by Jesper Brett (57 points) and Jack Hughes (49 points), along with defensive stars like Luke Hughes and goaltender Nico Daws, the Flyers will face a sizable challenge in this game.
Possibly Down a Ginger?
New captain Sean Couturier and defenseman Cam York both got banged up during the Flyers' game against the Maple Leafs on Thursday, with York being on the receiving end of a hard hit from Simon Benoit, and Couturier taking a nasty slash to the leg. York left the game immediately after the hit in the third period and did not return, while Couturier powered through one shift after the hit, but did not see the ice after that.
Both players participated in the Flyers' practice on Friday, with Couturier confirming that the slash just stung him in a place without padding, that the extent of the damage didn't go beyond some bruising, and that he felt perfectly fine to play against the Devils. While York said he felt good after practice, along with clearing up that the hit was on his upper body and not his head (as some fans had feared), he remains a game day decision.
The Flyers are also without Tyson Foerster, who is dealing with a minor lower body injury, but not expected for too much logner, and Rasmus Ristolainen (upper body injury), whose injury timeline has not been specified.
Mother Nature is a Hockey Fan
It'll no doubt be a chilly game under the lights—with temperatures predicted to reach a high of the upper 30s—but the weather reports all say that the game should be able to go on without any major elemental interference. New Jersey got some snow overnight, but those flurries are forecasted to move out of the way in time for the game's 8:00 p.m. puck drop.
The players also agreed that the ice felt great, with Joel Farabee noting that he "wasn't expecting" it to be as good as it was.
The Flyers haven't had the best luck with weather in their previous Stadium Series outings. In 2019, blustering rain impaired their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Lincoln Financial Field. In 2021, the sunny conditions managed to be a bad thing in their Lake Tahoe game against the Boston Bruins. For 2024, however, it looks like Mother Nature is just as excited to watch the Battle of the Turnpike as the rest of us.
Flyers Projected Lines:
Forwards:
Tippett - Couturier - Konecny
Farabee - Frost - Atkinson
Cates - Poehling - Hathaway
Lycksell - Laughton
Defense:
York - Sanheim
Seeler - Walker
Staal - Drysdale
Zamula
Starting Goalie:
Ersson
Devils Projected Lines:
Forwards:
Palat - Hischier - Bratt
Hughes - Haula - Toffoli
Meier - Lazar - Mercer
Holtz - Nosek - Bastian
Defense:
Bahl - Nemec
Hughes - Marino
Smith - Miller
Starting Goalie:
Daws
Related: All of the Sights and Sounds from Flyers' Stadium Series Practice at MetLife
Related: Flyers Discuss Excitement, Preparation For Outdoor Game