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Devils try to stay hot against East-leading Flyers

Jan 22, 2011 - 3:29 PM (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils will try to keep their recent hot streak going today, when they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Flyers for an afternoon clash at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Devils are still last in the NHL with 31 points, but Jersey has won two straight and has earned a point in five straight games with a 4-0-1 record over that stretch.

Today, New Jersey will try to post its first three-game winning streak of the season against a Flyers club that has won four in a row and is 8-1-0 so far in 2011. Philadelphia also leads the NHL with 67 points and is five points in front of Pittsburgh for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Devils won the first meeting with the Flyers this season, but Philly has since taken three straight encounters and swept a home-and-home series against the Devils earlier this month. The Flyers have won six of seven and nine of 11 overall in this series and New Jersey has dropped six straight and eight of its last nine in Philadelphia.

Martin Brodeur helped anchor New Jersey's most recent win, as he turned away 23 shots in Thursday's 2-0 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. Brodeur recorded his fourth shutout of the season and 114th of his career, the most of any goaltender in NHL history.

Brian Rolston and Nick Palmieri potted first-period goals for the Devils, who last won three in a row from Jan. 2-9 of last season.

"It's great, you can't ask for much more against a team like Pittsburgh," said Palmieri about the victory. "They're a good team and we knew that going in. We just stuck to our game plan and played well as a team."

The Devils have won two of their last three road games, but are still just 6-16-1 as the visiting team this season.

The Flyers used a three-goal third period to blow out the visiting Ottawa Senators in their last game on Thursday. Mike Richards tied a season high with four points on two goals and two assists to help lift Philly to the 6-2 victory over the struggling Senators.

Danny Briere and Andrej Meszaros posted a goal and helper each for the Flyers. Scott Hartnell also tallied while Sergei Bobrovsky halted 25-of-27 shots for the victory.

"Different people every night, that's what's given us success so far this season," Richards said.

The Flyers also welcomed defenseman Chris Pronger back to the lineup after he missed 13 games with a broken right foot. He notched two assists with a plus- one rating in just over 20 minutes of ice time.

Today's test marks the end of a three-game homestand for Philly, which has won three in a row at the Wells Fargo Center and is 15-6-2 as the host this season.