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Devils-Flyers Preview

Nov 16, 2009 - 5:49 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

New Jersey (14-4-0) at Philadelphia (10-5-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Road trips have been anything but intimidating for the New Jersey Devils, who begin a three-game stretch away from home with a chance to make history.

The Devils look to tie the NHL record for consecutive road wins to start a season when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.

New Jersey (14-4-0) opened the season with consecutive losses at home to Philadelphia and the New York Rangers, but the team has been outstanding since, especially on the road. The Devils have scored 29 goals while winning nine straight away from home, and they've strung together eight straight victories overall.

A victory Monday would tie the NHL record for consecutive road wins to start the season, equaling the mark set by Buffalo in 2006.

"For whatever reason we're comfortable on the road," left wing Zach Parise said. "It's not as if you go into other rinks so much anymore where you get intimidated. We play pretty smart. It's all the same size ice surface. We are just playing smart and easy hockey and it is working for us."

Parise has been especially important to the team's success on the road. He has scored six of his team-leading 10 goals on the road.

Parise comes in having scored in four straight games overall, including once in a 5-2 home win over Washington on Saturday. The Devils scored three times in the second period, with Parise adding the go-ahead goal on a breakaway with 5:20 remaining.

New Jersey now begins a three-game road trip, which also includes trips to Nashville and Dallas. The Devils look to not only keep up their strong offensive play during this stretch, but continue their success on defense as well. They have given up six total goals in their last five games outside New Jersey and killed 27 of 30 opponent power-play opportunities on the road this season.

Goaltender Martin Brodeur, the NHL leader in road wins, is 8-0-0 with a 1.70 goals-against average away from home.

"I think the road caters to our style of game," said right wing Jamie Langenbrunner, who has six points in the last four games. "We can keep it simple and make it hard on the other team, and when they start pressing, that's when we're at our best."

Though New Jersey is feeling confident, the Devils have lost three of their last four road games against the Flyers (10-5-1). Brodeur has dropped five of his last six starts against them, including three in a row in Philadelphia.

The Devils will face a Flyers team that is looking to bounce back after having a five-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to Buffalo on Saturday.

Philadelphia had scored 24 goals during the streak, going 6 for 19 on the power play. The Flyers were 0 for 4 with the man advantage on Saturday, though, and trailed 2-0 entering the third period. Jeff Carter scored a short-handed goal midway through the third, but Philadelphia was unable to get closer.

"We made it harder by playing catch-up hockey with penalties in the first period," coach John Stevens said. "We got frustrated a little bit and allowed them to get a little momentum."

That loss also snapped Philadelphia's four-game winning streak at home, during which goaltender Ray Emery held opponents to five goals while starting each game.

Emery was in net for the Flyers' win over the Devils earlier this season, making 26 saves in the 5-2 victory. He had lost his previous four starts against them, allowing 10 goals.