Devils, Flyers Both Look to Snap Losing Streaks in Critical Division Matchup

Struggling Devils Face Slumping Flyers in Key Division Clash

Two Metropolitan Division rivals meet on Sunday afternoon with both teams badly needing a win. The New Jersey Devils, stuck in third place in the division, have lost three straight and continue to struggle despite an active trade deadline. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers have also lost three in a row, putting their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

With both teams trending downward, this game represents an opportunity for one of them to turn things around before it’s too late.

New Jersey’s Post-Trade Struggles Continue

Despite making several moves ahead of the NHL trade deadline, the Devils’ 9-14-3 record over their last 26 games has kept them from solidifying a playoff position.

Their most recent defeat, a 6-1 blowout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, exposed their defensive weaknesses, even after acquiring:

• Cody Glass (forward)
• Daniel Sprong (forward)
• Brian Dumoulin (defenseman)
• Dennis Cholowski (defenseman)

The additions were meant to improve New Jersey’s depth, but the immediate results were not promising. GM Tom Fitzgerald remained optimistic despite the loss.

“We thought that the bottom-six area was something we could try to add some speed, some size, and a little more depth,” Fitzgerald said.

New Jersey has also been devastated by injuries, losing:

• Jack Hughes (shoulder) for the season
• Dougie Hamilton (lower-body) for “extended time”
• Jonas Siegenthaler (lower-body) out until the playoffs

Without Hughes and Hamilton, the Devils have struggled to generate offense and defend at a high level. However, Fitzgerald insists the team must adapt.

“No Jack Hughes, but we’re not a one-man team,” he said. “No Dougie Hamilton, but we’re not a one-man defense corps. We’re a good team.”

Philadelphia’s Playoff Hopes Fading

After a brief 4-0-1 stretch, the Flyers have come crashing down, losing their last three games by a combined score of 14-5.

This losing streak comes during a seven-game homestand, making it even more painful for Flyers fans. They suffered back-to-back 4-1 losses to Winnipeg and Seattle, followed by a 6-3 defeat against Calgary.

Philadelphia coach John Tortorella admitted that the team is moving in the wrong direction.

“We’ve got to keep working at our game,” Tortorella said. “It’s going the wrong direction. As each game has gone by, we’ve gotten worse.”

Captain Sean Couturier echoed those concerns, particularly criticizing the team’s defensive breakdowns.

“Giving up a goal late in the period is tough, and we gave up two there,” Couturier said. “All game long we gave up a lot of odd-man rushes, we weren’t above the puck. It was ugly.”

One bright spot has been rookie Matvei Michkov, who assisted on Owen Tippett’s goal in the loss to Calgary. Michkov now has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past seven games, proving to be one of the few offensive sparks for the Flyers.

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Season Series: Devils vs. Flyers

These teams have split their first two meetings this season:

• Jan. 27: Flyers won 4-2 in Philadelphia
• Jan. 29: Devils bounced back with a 5-0 shutout win at home

This will be the third of four meetings this season, with New Jersey looking to even the series in Philadelphia.

Key Players to Watch

New Jersey Devils

• Dawson Mercer – Scored against Winnipeg and also found the net in the Devils’ previous win over the Flyers.
• Timo Meier – Has just four points in 11 games since his strong performances in January.
• Nico Hischier – Needs to step up in Jack Hughes’ absence and take control of the offense.

Philadelphia Flyers

• Matvei Michkov – The rookie has been one of the team’s only consistent offensive threats, with 11 points in his last seven games.
• Sean Couturier – The captain must lead by example, particularly defensively.
• Carter Hart – The Flyers’ goaltender must be sharp against a Devils team looking to bounce back.

Keys to the Game

For the Devils:

• Tighten up defensively. New Jersey was embarrassed in its last game, allowing six goals to Winnipeg. Defensive structure must improve.
• Get secondary scoring. Without Hughes, Hischier, Meier, and Mercer must generate more offense.
• Avoid costly penalties. The Flyers will look to capitalize on any power-play opportunities.

For the Flyers:

• Limit turnovers. Philadelphia has given up far too many odd-man rushes, leading to easy goals for opponents.
• Continue Michkov’s hot streak. If the rookie keeps producing, the Flyers have a chance to break through offensively.
• Take advantage of New Jersey’s missing stars. With Hughes and Hamilton out, the Flyers need to attack New Jersey’s weakened lineup early and often.

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Final Prediction

Both teams are struggling, but the Devils appear less stable defensively, while Philadelphia’s issues have been more about inconsistency. Playing at home could give the Flyers an edge in what figures to be a tight, low-scoring game.

Prediction: Flyers 3, Devils 2 (OT).