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Flyers-Devils Preview

Dec 12, 2009 - 5:37 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Philadelphia (14-14-1) at New Jersey (21-7-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Flyers seemed to be moving in the right direction when they beat the New Jersey Devils for the second time this season less than a month ago, but they've since seen their offense disappear and their coach sent packing.

The Devils, meanwhile, are tied atop the Atlantic Division, and seem to be in good position to snap their three-game skid against the Flyers on Saturday night at the Prudential Center.

Philadelphia (14-14-1) pulled within five points of fast-starting New Jersey with a 3-2 victory over the Devils on Nov. 16 - the second of New Jersey's four losses to that point against the Flyers - but has fallen apart since then.

A 1-6-0 stretch that started Nov. 20 resulted in coach John Stevens being fired on Dec. 4. He was replaced by Peter Laviolette, but that hasn't exactly helped Philadelphia turn itself around.

The Flyers were outscored 11-3 in their first two games under Laviolette, and after breaking out offensively Tuesday in a 6-2 win over the New York Islanders found themselves back on the losing end Thursday. Ottawa's Brian Elliott made 23 saves as Philadelphia fell 2-0, its third shutout in six games for only the second time since 1968.

The Flyers were blanked three times last season.

"It's disappointing. It (stinks)," defenseman Chris Pronger told the team's official Web site. "We don't like to lose. It's getting pretty old."

Laviolette, who led Carolina to the 2006 Stanley Cup, hasn't been imploring his team to get out of the Atlantic basement, which it currently shares with the New York Islanders. Instead, he's talked about getting Philadelphia back to the Cup finals for the first time since 1997.

"We have to start believing in that right away," said winger Scott Hartnell, who has one goal in his last seven games. "It's still early in the season. We've put ourselves in a little bit of a hole but if I'm a betting man, we'll be there at the end."

Ray Emery was in goal for both of the Flyers' wins over New Jersey (21-8-1) this season, but is out six weeks with a torn abdominal muscle. Now, it's up to Brian Boucher to assume the No. 1 role and he hasn't been bad - posting a 2.36 goals-against average despite going 3-6-0.

Boucher, 1-2-1 with a tie and a 2.37 GAA in his career versus New Jersey, hasn't faced the Devils since 2006 while with Chicago.

There's no question who the top goaltender is in New Jersey, where Martin Brodeur is on the verge of setting the NHL record for career shutouts. He's currently tied with Terry Sawchuk at 103, and given the Flyers' offensive woes and his nine career shutouts against Philadelphia, breaking the record Saturday is certainly a possibility.

Brodeur had a rare off night Friday, though, stopping 18 shots in a 4-2 loss to Florida.

"We got down early and that was tough," said winger Brian Rolston, who has four goals and three assists in his last seven games. "We tried to fight back and we just didn't play a characteristic game for us."

Zach Parise went a sixth consecutive game without a goal, but scoring hasn't been a problem for him versus Philadelphia. New Jersey's leader with 34 points, Parise has four goals and six assists in 10 games against the Flyers since the start of last season.