New Jersey Devils (13-20-7) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (14-17-7)
7:00 PM ET • Prudential Center • MSG Plus • News Radio 880 WCBS
Pre-Game Availability
- New Jersey will not have a morning skate. A small group of players will skate at 10:30 AM at AmeriHealth Pavilion. President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello will be available following the morning session. For afternoon availability, select players will be available in the hallway outside of the Devils’ Locker Room at 4:45 PM.
Coming Into Tonight
- New Jersey will conclude the first-half of its regular season schedule tonight. The Devils are 13-20-7=33pts (.413) through their first 40 games; they were 17-16-8=42pts (.512) at the halfway point last season.
- Tonight’s contest closes-out the club’s ninth of 18 sets of back-to-back games. They are 4-3-2 in first games and 2-4-2 in second games when playing on consecutive dates.
- New Jersey was 3/4 on the penalty-kill last night vs. Montreal and is 39/43 (90.7%) over the past 13 games.
Tonight’s Opponent
- Philadelphia is concluding an eight-game road trip tonight. The Flyers are 0-3-1 in their last four following last night’s 2-1 loss at Carolina.
- Jakub Voracek is the NHL’s leading scorer with 15g-32a-47pts this season. Claude Giroux is third (tie, Evgeni Malkin and Ryan Getzlaf) with 13g-30a-43pts.
- Steve Mason is 0-5-0 with a 3.64 goals-against average in five career games vs. New Jersey. Ray Emery is 8-4-2 with two shutouts and a 1.85 GAA in 14 appearances vs. the Devils.
Last Game: January 2 – Devils 2 vs. Montreal 4
- Keith Kinkaid (22 saves + ENG) made his fourth start of the season and fell to 1-2-2.
- Mike Cammalleri scored his team-leading 12th goal of the year/first since December 4 at Toronto (seven games).
- Michael Ryder scored his fifth goal of the season/first since November 6 at St. Louis (21 games). He now has 3g-2a-5pts in four games vs. the Canadiens as a Devil.
- Jaromir Jagr recorded the primary assist on Cammalleri’s marker, his team-leading 22nd point of the season. Jagr now has 1,066 assists in his career and trails Adam Oates (1,079a) by 13 helpers for sixth all-time.
- Scott Gomez collected the secondary assist on Cammalleri’s goal. He also appeared in his 564th game with New Jersey, which ties Jamie Langenbrunner for 16th in team history.
- Patrik Elias, Martin Havlat and Ryder were each activated from Injured Reserve prior to the game and returned to the lineup.
- Steve Bernier (lower body) and Eric Gelinas (ill) each missed their first game of the season due to injury/illness.
Devils vs. Flyers
- Tonight’s contest is the third of four meetings between the Metropolitan Division rivals this season and the first of two to be played at Prudential Center.
- The season series is tied 1-1-0 following Philadelphia’s 4-1 win at Wells Fargo Center on December 11. The Flyers have outscored the Devils, 8-7, and hold a 75-44 edge in total shots on goal.
- Michael Ryder has 1g-2a-3pts to lead the Devils, while Wayne Simmonds (3g-1a) Claude Giroux (1g-3a) and Mark Streit (4a) each have 4pts to lead the Flyers.
- Cory Schneider (1-1-0, 3.51 goals-against average & .905 save-percentage) has started both games for New Jersey, while Ray Emery (1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .944 save %) and Steve Mason (0-1-0, 5.11 GAA, .800 save %) have split the goaltending duties for Philadelphia.
- Patrik Elias is the Devils’ career leader with 36g-45a-81pts in 83 career games vs. the Flyers; the 36g are the most by any Devil vs. any opponent.
- Schneider is now 1-2-0 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .915 save-percentage in three career appearances vs. Philadelphia.
- The Devils lead the all-time series 97-75-20, including a 59-28-8 edge in the previous 95 games played in New Jersey.
- The final game of the season series will be played on March 8 at Prudential Center.
Philadelphia Connections
- Jaromir Jagr spent the 2011-12 season as a member of the Flyers.
- Dainius Zubrus was Philadelphia’s first choice, 15th overall, in the 1996 Entry Draft. He played two-plus seasons with the club, and was a teammate of Flyers’ GM Ron Hextall, from 1996-1999 before being traded to Montreal on Mar. 10, 1999.
- Adam Larsson and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare were teammates with Skelleftea (Sweden) for two seasons from 2009-11.
- Jagr and Jakub Voracek are both from Kladno in the Czech Republic.
- Jagr and Flyers’ Assistant Coach Joe Mullen played five seasons together in Pittsburgh from 1990-95 and were members of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup Championship teams in 1991 & 1992.
- Flyers’ goaltending coach Jeff Reese played three games for the Devils in 1996-97.
Notes
- DEVILS RESTRUCTURE COACHING STAFF: On December 27, New Jersey restructured its coaching staff by adding Scott Stevens and Adam Oates. They join Tommy Albelin, Mike Foligno and Chris Terreri on the team’s staff. Peter DeBoer and Dave Barr were relieved of their coaching duties.
- PENALTY-KILL TURNAROUND: On Nov. 11, New Jersey was 38/59 (64.4%) on the penalty-kill through the first 15 games of the season, which ranked 30th in the NHL. Since then, the Devils are 76/85 (89.4%) on the PK, which ranks second (Carolina, 54/59, 91.5%) in the NHL during that span.
- ZUBRUS REACHES 1,200 GAMES: Dainius Zubrus appeared in his 1,200th game on Wednesday, becoming just the 102nd player in NHL history to do so. He made his NHL debut as the youngest player in Flyers’ franchise history (18 years, 3 months & 19 days) on October 5, 1996 vs. Florida and scored a goal that night vs. former Devil John Vanbiesbrouck. Zubrus has played 511 games with the Devils entering tonight, the most among the five NHL teams he’s skated for, followed by Washington (331), Philadelphia (200), Montreal (139) and Buffalo (19).
- ONE-THOUSAND GAMES FOR GOMEZ: Scott Gomez appeared in the 1,000th game of his career on December 27 at Madison Square Garden, becoming the 296th player in NHL history to do so.
- JAGR CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS: Jaromir Jagr has career totals of 711g-1,066a-1,777pts in 1,512 NHL games. Jagr scored the 711th goal of his career on December 29 vs. Pittsburgh and now trails Phil Esposito (717g) by six for fifth in NHL history. He scored his 709th goal on November 28 vs. Detroit to move past Mike Gartner for sole-possession of sixth place all-time. On Dec. 15 at the NY Islanders, he posted the 1,064/65th assists of his career to pass Steve Yzerman (1,063a) for sole possession of seventh-place in NHL history. He now has 1,066a and trails Adam Oates (1,079a) by 13 for sixth all-time. He recorded 1g-1a-2pts on December 8 at Carolina to tie/surpass Marcel Dionne (731g-1,040a-1,771pts) for sole-possession of fifth-place on the NHL’s point-scoring list. Ron Francis (549g-1,249a-1,798pts) is fourth. He also appeared in his 1,500th career game on December 8 to pass Mike Modano for sole-possession of 15th-place all-time; Yzerman (1,514) is 14th. With 202 power play goals, Jagr has tied Yzerman for 15th-place; Wayne Gretzky is next on the list with 204 PPG. He extended his NHL records with his 126th GWG December 29 & the 19 OT goal of his career on October 25 at Ottawa. Jagr recorded three shots on goal on December 2 at Pittsburgh to pass passed Al MacInnis (5,157) for third-place in NHL history.
- WELCOME BACK GOMER: Scott Gomez, who signed a new contract with New Jersey on December 1, made his season debut on December 2 at Pittsburgh and became the 25th player in Devils’ history to be re-acquired and see action with the team. Prior to December 2, Gomez last played for the Devils on May 5, 2007 in game six of the ECSF vs. Ottawa. Gomez posted the 338th assist of his Devils’ career on December 15 at the New York Islanders to pass Scott Stevens (337a) for sole-possession fourth-place in team history. He recorded 2a on December 8 at Carolina to tie/surpass Kirk Muller (335a) for fifth-place on New Jersey’s all-time list. Gomez ranks sixth in Devils’ history with 458pts; Bobby Holik (202g-270a-472pts) is fifth.
- ELIAS APPROACHING MILESTONES: Patrik Elias scored his fourth goal of the season on December 19 vs. Tampa Bay and now has career totals of 397g-599a-996pts in 1,185 games. He’s looking to become just the 91st player in league history to reach the 400-goal mark, the 80th to collect 600 assists, the 82nd to compile 1,000 points and the 101st to appear in 1,200 games.
- THAT’S A FIRST: Keith Kinkaid (26 saves + 3/3 SO) earned the first win of his NHL career on December 19 vs. Tampa Bay. He became the first goaltender to win his first NHL game as a Devil since Scott Clemmensen (January 20, 2004 at Pittsburgh). Kinkaid also became the first goaltender in NHL history to have each of his first three starts go to the shootout.
- POWER PLAY SPECIALIST: Mike Cammalleri scored his team-leading fifth power play goal on December 6 at Toronto. He now has 90 PPG since 2005-06, which ranks ninth among active players/11th overall.
- 500 CLUB: Andy Greene skated in his 500th game with New Jersey on November 28 vs. Detroit, becoming the eighth defenseman/25th player in team history to reach the milestone. Dainius Zubrus appeared in his 500th game with the Devils on November 21 at Edmonton, becoming the 24th player in franchise history to do so.
- SCHNEIDER ESTABLISHES NEW FRANCHISE RECORD: Cory Schneider started 20 consecutive games from October 9-November 21 at Edmonton, the longest streak to begin a season in Devils’ history (Martin Brodeur, 19, October 6-November 2, 2001). (credit Elias Sports Bureau)
- CORY’S NUMBER ONE: Cory Schneider ranks first with a 2.14 goals-against average (2nd, Jonathan Quick, 2.16) and a .926 save-percentage (2nd, Tuukka Rask, .924) among goaltenders that have played in at least 100 games since the start of 2010-11. Schneider finished his first season in New Jersey with a 1.97 GAA, which ranked third in the NHL and first among goaltenders who appeared in at least 35 games. Schneider posted the third-best single-season GAA in franchise history behind Martin Brodeur’s 1996-97 (1.88 GAA) and 1997-98 (1.89 GAA) campaigns.
- CZECH IT OUT: Jaromir Jagr (711g-1,066a-1,777pts), Patrik Elias (397g-599a-996pts) are the two highest-scoring players from the Czech Republic in NHL history, while Martin Havlat (239g-348a-587pts) ranks third among active players and 15th all-time. Marek Zidlicky is fifth among all Czech defensemen with 82g-303a-385pts and 27th overall.
- YOUTH MOVEMENT ON THE BLUE LINE: The Devils’ roster features five defensemen who are 24-years-old or younger: Seth Helgeson (24), Eric Gelinas (23 years), Jon Merrill (22), Adam Larsson (22) and Damon Severson (20).
- WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: The 2015 World Junior Championships began December 26 in Montreal, Que. and Toronto, Ont. Forward Miles Wood, New Jersey’s third choice (fourth round) in the 2013 Entry Draft, skated for Team USA for the first time and recorded 4 PIM and a +1 mark in five games. The U.S. lost, 3-2, to Russia yesterday at Bell Centre in the quarterfinals and was eliminated from the tournament.
Milestone Watch
- Mike Cammalleri needs three games played for 700 in his NHL career.
- Patrik Elias needs three goals to reach 400, one assist to reach 600 and four points to reach 1,000 in his NHL career.
- Eric Gelinas needs seven games played to reach 100 in his NHL career.
- Tuomo Ruutu needs six assists to reach 200 in his NHL career.
- Michael Ryder needs six games to reach 800 in his NHL career.
Injuries
- Steve Bernier (lower body, one game missed) is day-to-day.
- Eric Gelinas (ill, one game missed) is day-to-day.
- Stephen Gionta (I.R., broken hand, two games missed) is out.
- Jacob Josefson (ill, three games missed) is day-to-day.
- Damon Severson (I.R., left ankle, eight games missed) is out.
- Bryce Salvador (I.R., lower body, 25 games missed) is out.
- Ryane Clowe (I.R., hit to head, 27 games missed) is out.
- Total man-games lost to injury/illness: 165.
Recent Transactions
- January 2 – Stefan Matteau and Joe Whitney were assigned to Albany (AHL). Mike Sislo was placed on waivers. Patrik Elias, Martin Havlat and Michael Ryder were activated from Injured Reserve.
- December 30 – Stephen Gionta was placed on I.R., retroactive to Dec. 29. Jacob Josefson was placed on I.R., retroactive to Dec. 27. Mike Sislo was recalled from Albany (AHL).
- December 29 – Michael Ryder was placed on I.R. Stefan Matteau and Joe Whitney were recalled from Alb.
- December 27 – Patrik Elias and Martin Havlat were placed on I.R., retroactive to December 20. Dainius Zubrus was activated from I.R. Tim Sestito was recalled from Alb.
- December 24 – Tim Sestito was assigned to Alb.
- December 23 – Mike Cammalleri was activated from Injured Reserve.
- December 22 – Tim Sestito was recalled from Alb.
- December 21 – Tim Sestito and Mike Sislo were assigned to Alb.
- December 20 – Mike Cammalleri was placed on I.R., retroactive to December 13. Adam Larsson and Mike Sislo were recalled from Alb.
- December 18 – Damon Severson was placed on I.R. Mark Fraser was signed to a two-way contract and placed on waivers.
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