The New Jersey Devils (27-37-14) and Philadelphia Flyers (38-33-8) will meet for the fifth and final time this season; New Jersey holds the edge in the season series with a 3-1-0 record, their lone loss coming on Saturday in a 3-0 shutout at the Wells Fargo Center. That game recap is posted here: 4/1/17 Game Recap: New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Kinkaid (7-12-3, 2.70 GAA, .915 save %) will get the start in net tonight; Cory Schneider (20-25-11, 2.72 GAA, .912 save %) started on Saturday but both goaltenders have been switching starts and will continue to do so. Michal Neuvirth was released from the hospital but his game day status is unknown. Steve Mason (25-21-7, 2.71 GAA, .907 save %) has returned from an illness and will likely start tonight while Anthony Stolarz (2-1-0, 1.93 GAA, .932 save %) serves as backup.
Other lineup notes: John Quenneville was sent back down to Albany (AHL) on Sunday and scored their lone goal against Rochester; the Devils are barely clinging onto a playoff spot with 75 points and sitting 4th in the division (they have the same number of points as the Comets). Jacob Josefson may also return to the lineup tonight and if not, sometime this week; here’s to hoping he’ll be back on a line with Pavel Zacha and Stefan Noesen. Miles Wood missed practice yesterday with an upper body injury (likely his arm) but has not been ruled out for tonight. Dalton Prout was suspended for two games by NHL Player Safety for his hit on Philadelphia’s Radko Gudas on Saturday; he will miss tonight and Thursday.
The Flyers recalled defenseman Sam Morin this morning and will presumably make his NHL debut tonight, as will newly signed Flyers prospect Mike Vecchione out of Union College. Brandon Manning has an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.
The Flyers were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their 4-3 loss to the Rangers on Sunday; Stolarz made 20 saves on 24 shots against (.833 save percentage) in his start, and Valtteri Filppula (2) and Brayden Schenn both scored goals. The score was a little more lopsided than it indicates: Flyers were down 4-1 with three minutes left in regulation but somehow cut it close.
It’s also the beginning of Fan Appreciation Week! Patrik Elias will be at The Rock to drop the ceremonial puck before the game so be sure to get to the game a little earlier if you’re going. There will be a ton of other festivities going on as well. A few of the Devils players usually greet fans as they’re entering the arena. There may be a few giveaways, and it’s always a fun time!
Puck will drop at 7PM but be sure to get to The Rock early!
And if you haven’t already heard, Devils prospects Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian are moving on to the second round of the OHL playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They won four games to two, and will play the Oshawa Generals. McLeod had six goals and five assists, and Bastian had five goals and two assists; McLeod had a pair of goals and three assists in Sunday’s Game 6 matchup.
The Devils Are In The Details 