Flyers, Devils set for Atlantic Division clash
East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers hope to end a three-game losing streak tonight when they visit the New Jersey Devils at the Meadowlands for a matchup of the top two clubs in the Atlantic Division.
With 67 points, New Jersey leads Philadelphia by three atop the standings.
The Flyers enter tonight's action having fallen to the Islanders, Bruins and Lightning on the heels of a 10-1 surge. They have been shut out consecutively by Boston and Tampa Bay, including Tuesday's 3-0 home loss to the Bolts.
Philadelphia, which has never been blanked in three consecutive games in its regular-season history, has not scored a goal in 141:41 of action. Defenseman Kim Johnsson was the last player to do so, converting a power play with 1:10 remaining in last Friday's 3-1 loss to the Islanders.
Goaltender Roman Cechmanek made 19 saves on Tuesday after sitting out two games with a back injury. Winger Simon Gagne, who has sat a pair with a groin strain, skated Wednesday and is questionable for tonight.
The Flyers, who have won six of their last seven on the road, are 7-1-3 on Thursdays this season. Philly will visit the Isles on Tuesday to come out of the All-Star break.
New Jersey, meanwhile, is 9-0-1-1 in its last 11 games, including Tuesday's 1-0 home win over Detroit. Martin Brodeur needed to make just 16 saves for his sixth shutout of the season, and Scott Niedermayer broke a scoreless tie 3:36 into the third period. Niedermayer's tally came during a power play that resulted from a too many men on the ice call against Detroit.
Niedermayer's goal was his 406th career point, which tied teammate Scott Stevens for the Devils' record for scoring by a defenseman. Niedermayer has 95 goals and 311 assists in 779 games, and Stevens' totals show 86 goals and 320 assists in 886 games with the club.
The Devils, who have won six consecutive home matches, will host Buffalo on Tuesday.
New Jersey and Philadelphia have played an NHL-record four consecutive 1-0 games dating back to February 27, 2002, with the Devs taking the last three. With a 1-0 overtime win in Philly on December 2, Brodeur extended his shutout streak in the series to 207:01, and New Jersey's run to 214:52.
