The Matchup: (7) Philadelphia Flyers at the (2) New Jersey Devils. The puck is set to drop at 7:30pm. Watch it on MSG+

The Season Recap: This is one season series the Devils and their fans would like to forget. The Flyers finished 5-1-0 against the Atlantic Division Champions this season. This is the first time that the Flyers won five games against the Devils since the 1988-89 season. Forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Chris Pronger tied for the team-lead against New Jersey with 7 points apiece. Devils forward Patrik Elias led the Devils in scoring against Philadelphia with 2 goals and 5 points, but Brodeur was 1-4-1 with a 3.34 goals-against average.

The Big Story: This will be the fourth time the Devils and Flyers have met in the postseason. The Devils beat the Flyers in 1995 (a look back here) and 2000 (a look back here) Eastern Conference Finals en route to capturing the Stanley Cup both times and lost to the Flyers in 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Tonight's Objective: Play hard, stay out of the box and play to win. It really is that simple.

Play Hard: I know I brought it up many times throughout the season and I am sure AJ has too but the Devils need to play a full 60 minutes tonight. Don't take a shift or two off because the Flyers have the firepower to make you pay for that. Chris Pronger certainly made his presence known on the ice this season against the Devils. As I mentioned above, he was tied for the team-lead in points against NJ this season. On top of that, he avaraged almost 26 minutes of ice time and while he is known for being cheap at times, he's also an incredible defenseman. If NJ wants to get to Boucher, they will certainly have to go through Pronger to do so.

Stay Out of the Box: This one is simple, the Flyers had the 3rd best Powerplay percentage in the league. Keeping their power play units off the ice is a must.

Play To Win: The 2009 series against the Carolina Hurricanes is a distant memory. I know a lot of people bring it up, (hey I just did!!) but the Devils know what they did wrong in that series and they shouldn't be looking back at it. This is a very different team, with different players and coaches. Jaques Lemaire is a great coach who manages to get the absolute most out of all his players. Each player on the ice has to know what their job is tonight and execute the plan exactly as Lemaire has laid it out for them.

I am trying not to pay too much attention to the hype behind Kovalchuk and the playoffs. He's never won a game in the postseason but he's only played 4 games total. This Devils team is a much more talented team than the 2007 Thrashers were so that whole storyline isn't a big deal to me. I do want Kovalchuk to succeed and I am hoping for all those who don't understand why we brought him to NJ will see what exactly the big deal is in this series.

Did you know that the Boucher v Brodeur matchup in net is a rematch of the 2000 Conference Finals? I bet no one dreamed up this matchup back in October when Ray Emery was playing lights out hockey!

Lines: The Flyers love the physical stuff and the Devils will have to put a little beef into their lineup tonight. For me, that beef comes in the form of PLx3.

Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Dainius Zubrus
Ilya Kovalchuk - Patrik Elias - Jamie Langenbrunner
Brian Rolston - Rob Niedermayer - David Clarkson
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond - Dean McAmmond - Rod Pelley

Paul Martin - Martin Skoula
Colin White - Mike Mottau
Andy Greene - Bryce Salvador

Martin Brodeur

So here we go... The journey to capture the 2010 Stanley Cup has officially begun!! Check back tonight during the game or if you can't get to the site, find us on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rwtdblog

As the first game of their playoff series looms, we here at Running With The Devils are going to break down the matchup between the Flyers and the Devils. In the first installment of this series, we’ll take a look at the forwards for both teams.

Philadelphia Flyers

Injuries have cost the team several key players, mostly in net. But one of the biggest injuries came when Jeff Carter went down with injury. While he hoped to be back for the playoffs, it looks like the Flyers will be without him. Carter, who led the team in goals and finished second in points, was an absolute Devil killer this season. In five games, he recorded three goals, two of which were tying goals. He also netted six game-winning goals, and recorded 22 powerplay points. The Flyers still have explosive scorers in Mike Richards and Danny Briere. Simon Gagne has always hurt the Devils. But, after that, the performance falls off. Claude Giroux can score big goals, but he can also disappear for large stretches of time. The same can be said for rookie James van Riemsdyk.

Overall, the Flyers ranked eighth in goals and 11th in assists. Their specialty teams are explosive, ranking second in powerplay goals and third in powerplay assists. The Flyers forwards are a dangerous bunch, but if the Devils can shut down their top guy, they should be able to manage playing against them.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils scored 22 goals fewer than the Flyers this season, but it doesn’t mean the team’s scorers can’t do some damage. The acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk seemed to pay off, as the Devils newest left- winger contributed 10 goals and 27 assists. He instantly updated the powerplay, and those assists show he’s willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get the goal. Zach Parise, who finished with 38 goals and 88 points, is another talented forward. Whether chasing down a loose puck or putting home a one-timer, he hustles during every shift. And these aren’t the only two bright spots. Players like Travis Zajac (25 goals, a new career high), Jamie Langenbrunner, and Patrik Elias are always dangerous.

One of the keys to the offense will be secondary scoring. We all know the top two lines can produce. But who will come up clutch? Can David Clarkson continue to improve? Will Rob Niedermayer and Dean McAmmond contribute anything offensively? Can Brian Rolston find his goal scoring touch? In the playoffs, these “role” players are usually the ones that make an impact. I think the Devils have more depth and more role players who can score these key goals.

Here’s the stat line: the Devils ranked 19th in the league in goals and 17th in assists this past season. The powerplay, while not great, was better this season, tying for 21st in powerplay goals and 21st in powerplay assists. It’s not dangerous, but the Devils can do some damage with their special teams.

So, overall, who owns the advantage. I think the teams are almost dead even, but I give the Devils a slight nod. I think the ability to run out two great scoring lines gives them a big advantage in the series. However, the powerplay ability of the Flyers should not be forgotten. The Devils will need to be smart, because the Flyers have the potential to put their great powerplay to work. As I said, the teams draw almost even, but in the end, I believe the Devils are a tad bit stronger.

Danny Briere Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Brian Rolston Photo Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images

In anticipation of the first round series between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils, we'll take a look back at the previous playoff matchups between the two rivals. Earlier today, we took a look back at the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals, which the Devils won, 4-2. Today, I’ll recap the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, where a big hit changed the series and propelled the Devils to their second Stanley Cup championship.

When the regular season ended, Philadelphia sat atop the Atlantic Division, with 105 points. The Devils finished only two points behind the Flyers, meaning the fourth seed in the conference. Six games before the season ended, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello decided to fire coach Rob Ftorek, electing to go with Larry Robinson to coach the team in the postseason. Philadelphia defeated Buffalo and Pittsburgh to reach the finals, and the Devils swept Florida and defeated Toronto. The teams would face each other again for a chance to play for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

In the opening game, Martin Brodeur stopped 35 shots, turning in an outstanding performance. Bobby Holik and Petr Sykora scored within a minute of each other in the third period, extending the Devils lead to 4-1. The team would go on to win Game 1 in Philadelphia, mirroring their 1995 opening game performance.

In game two, the Devils jumped out to a 3-2 lead. The series began to look eerily similar to 1995, with the Flyers losing both home games to fall into a 2-0 hole. But Rich Tocchet and Daymond Langkow scored goals in the third period to put the Flyers ahead, 4-2. Brian Boucher looked strong in net, stopping 30 shots and sending the series to the Meadowlands tied, 1-1.

It seemed Tocchet and Langkow turned the series, because game three was all Philadelphia. The Flyers defeated the Devils, 4-2, to take a 2-1 series lead. Game four went the same way, with the Flyers taking advantage of their opportunities. Craig Berube, who hadn’t scored in 86 playoff games, tallied a goal as the Flyers went on to defeat the Devils, 3-1. With the win, they swept the Devils on New Jersey’s home ice and went home to Philadelphia with a decisive 3-1 edge.

Facing elimination, the Devils played well in Philadelphia. The Devils jumped out a lead in the first period on a Jason Arnott goal, and never looked back. Patrik Elias, Bobby Holik and Sykora all scored in a 4-1 defeat over Philadelphia. Down in the series, 3-2, the Devils once again had life. But the odds were still against them. At the time, no team in the expansion era had ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the conference finals. What was worse, Flyers star Eric Lindros, who had missed several games after two concussions, was cleared to return to action.

Game six began as a scoreless battle, with each team unable to light the lamp for the first 51 minutes of the game. The Devils drew first blood, with playoff hero Claude Lemieux providing the spark. Lemieux stripped Andy Delmore of the puck and worked the puck to Holik. Holik put a shot on net, and Lemieux put home the rebound for his 80th playoff goal. Even a Lindros goal couldn’t help the Flyers, as the Devils defeated their rivals, 3-1, and evened the series at three apiece and forcing a game seven.

The Devils got out to a quick lead, 1-0, in game seven. Then, Scott Stevens gave every Devils fan something to remember, leveling Lindros near the blue line. The Flyers scorer was down for the count, and while it's always seemed to be up for debate, the hit looked clean. It would have been easy for the Flyers to fold, especially after a crushing hit. But they continued to battle, and Tocchet tied the game at one with a goal in the second period. As had happened all postseason long, the Devils big players stepped up. In the third period, Alexander Mogilny took the puck and put a shot on net. Elias, who drove the net, beat Boucher on the rebound for the series-clinching goal, and the Devils would complete the comeback.

After completing the comeback, the Devils moved on and faced the Dallas Stars in the finals. The Devils prevailed in six games, winning their second Stanley Cup championships. Stevens, who many believe sparked the Devils championship run with his hit, was awarded the Conn Smythe award.

As the countdown to the 2010 playoff opener between the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils, I’ll take a look back at the past postseason meetings between the two teams. Today, I look back at the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Devils, fresh off their surprising defeat of the Pittsburgh Penguins, faced off against the Flyers. The Flyers were looking to get back to the Cup finals for the first time since 1987, and the Devils were searching for their first ever Stanley Cup berth. The Flyers held home-ice advantage throughout the series, setting the tone between these rivals.

In the first game of the series, the Devils jumped all over the Flyers, taking a 3-0 lead after the first two periods. Bill Guerin added his second goal of the game to stretch the lead to four. Craig McTavish broke Martin Brodeur’s shutout with 1:54 remaining in regulation, but that was all the noise the Flyers would make. New Jersey defeated Philadelphia, 4-1, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The team’s traded goals in game two, with Mikael Renberg putting the Flyers ahead, 2-1, at the 13:54 mark of the first period. It gave the Flyers their first lead of the series. Devils’ forward John MacLean scored with 12 seconds left in the first, tying the game at two. New Jersey scored three straight goals in the second period, and went on to defeat the Flyers, 5-2. The Devils eliminated the home-ice advantage, dominating the Flyers and heading back to the Meadowlands with a 2-0 series lead.

The Flyers came into game three a desperate team. The Devils jumped out to a 2-1 lead, but Rod Brind’Amour tied the game with 6:03 left in regulation. Flyers captain Eric Lindros played the role of hero, scoring at 4:19 of the extra session to win the game. It gave Philadelphia life, and the cut the Devils’ lead in half, 2-1.

Game three helped the Flyers confidence, as Ron Hextall turned in a terrific performance. The Flyers goalie stopped 32 shots, vastly outplayed Brodeur, who finished with 15 saves. The Flyers won the game, 4-2, to head back home tied in the series, 2-2. Heading back on the road, the Devils needed a strong performance to get themselves back into the series.

Game five began well for the Devils, with the team taking a lead, 2-1, after the first period. After a scoreless middle period, the Flyers’ Kevin Dineen’s second goal of the game tied the game 3:13 into the final period. Stephane Richer almost gave the Devils’ a lead, breaking in alone on Hextall with under four minutes to play. The Devils’ forward rang a shot off the crossbar, ending the threat. But the Devils weren’t done, and Claude Lemieux scored one of the memorable goals in Devils postseason history. With less than a minute remaining, Lemieux picked up the puck in his own zone, and carried it into the Flyers zone. After crossing the blue line, Lemieux fired a shot that beat Hextall glove side, silencing the Spectrum crowd and giving the Devils a lead, 3-2. The Devils would hang on and head home with a chance to clinch the series on home ice.

The Devils returned home in the same situation as the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals – up in the series, 3-2, with a chance to clinch on home ice. While the Rangers went on to defeat the Devils in seven games, this series would end on a better note. Jim Montgomery scored 4:05 into the opening period to give the Flyers an early 1-0 lead. But the Devils, in large part to their trapping defense, would take control of the game. Richer tied the game with a powerplay goal at 10:25, and Brian Rolston scored with 1:45 left in the first period to give the Devils a 2-1 advantage. The second period would prove pivotal, as the Devils shut down the Flyers attack.

With the team holding on to a 2-1 lead, Bobby Holik would provide a big insurance goal. McTavish came into the Devils zone, putting a shot on net from the blue line. Shawn Chambers blocked the shot, and forwarded the puck to Holik. With four Flyers caught in the defensive zone, the Devils broke in with a 3-on-1. Holik held the puck, and Flyers’ defenseman Kevin Haller went to the ice to block the pass. Holik threaded a pass past the diving defenseman to Randy McKay, who deflected the puck past Hextall for the goal. The Devils extended the lead to 4-1 at 10:11 of the period. It was Lemieux once again, breaking in on Hextall all alone. He beat the Flyers goalie for his 11th goal of the postseason.

Renberg scored to cut the Devils lead, 4-2, but it wouldn’t be enough. The Devils defeated the Flyers, 4-2, to win the game and the series. They would move on to their first Stanley Cup and defeat the Detroit Red Wings, sweeping the series for their first ever Stanley Cup championship. Lemieux, who set career highs in playoff goals scored, won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The Matchup: The Buffalo Sabres (45-26-10) face off against the New Jersey Devils (47-27-7). This is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams. The Sabres lead the series, 2-1-0.

The Last Sabres Game: The Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators, 5-2, last night. After sitting out the past six games, Thomas Vanek returned to the lineup and scored four goals to pace the Sabres. Goalie Ryan Miller finished with 28 saves for his 41st win of the season.

The Last Devils Game: The Devils defeated the Islanders, 7-1, last night. Patrik Elias tallied two goals, and five other Devils scored in the rout. Martin Brodeur stopped 18 shots for his league-leading 44th victory.

The Last Sabres – Devils Game: The Sabres defeated the Devils, 2-1, in a shootout on January 27. Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville scored in the shootout, and Miller blanked Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner.

Tonight’s Matchup: It all comes down to the final game of the season for these two teams. The Devils only need a point from tonight’s matchup to clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference. To do it, they’ll have to face a tough Sabres team. And why not have an exciting game to end the season.

The Devils aren’t taking their collective foot off the pedal. Brodeur will get the start in net, even though The Sabres will turn to Patrick Lalime for tonight’s contest. Lemaire believes there’s no reason to rest Brodeur, because the Devils won’t have their playoff opener until Wednesday at the earliest. Brodeur should get the start. Not only has he played well lately, he’s also 5-1-2 in his last eight games, and he’s allowed six goals in his past six games. He’s found his stride, and there’s no reason for Brodeur to sit for four or five days.

The Devils have played well the past few games, and they have to do more of the same in tonight’s contest. Keep firing pucks on net and pressuring the Sabres. While the Sabres have Vanek back, they’re also missing a few players and will be weaker in goal. If the Devils can bring the same intensity and passion we saw last night, they should be able to jump ahead and get to the Sabres early.

Just a few final notes: If the Devils give up five goals or less, they will win the Jennings Tropy (fewest goals against). If they give up six goals, they’ll share the trophy with the Boston Bruins. Travis Zajac will also be the only Devil to play in all 82 games, extending his consecutive games streak to 319. Paul Martin will play in his 400th N.H.L. game.

Gametime is 5 p.m., and you can catch all the action on MSG Plus and WFAN.

Here are tonight's line combinations:

Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Jamie Langenbrunner

Ilya Kovalchuk - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus

Brian Rolston - Rob Niedermayer - David Clarkson

Jay Pandolfo - Dean McAmmond - Rod Pelley

Bryce Salvador - Andy Greene

Mark Fraser - Mike Mottau

Martin Skoula - Paul Martin

Martin Brodeur

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (46-27-7) face off against the New York Islanders (34-36-10). This is the final game of the regular season between both teams. The Devils currently lead the season series, 3-2-0.

The Last Islanders Game: The Islanders lost to Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-3, Thursday night. In the final game at the Igloo, Sidney Crosby collected four points to become the third youngest player to ever reach the 500 point mark. Martin Biron was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in the first period. Dwayne Roloson allowed three goals on 25 shots in relief.

The Last Devils Game: The Florida Panthers defeated the Devils, 3-2, Thursday night. Patrik Elias opened the scoring 59 seconds into the second period. Florida scored the next three, including the game-winning goal from Nathan Horton in the third period. Ex-Devil Scott Clemmensen stopped 44 shots in the victory.

The Last Islanders – Devils Game: The Islanders defeated the Devils, 4-2, March 13th on Long Island. Jon Sim broke a 1-1 tie in the second period, and Sean Bergenheim added the dagger with a shorthanded goal in the third period. Devils goalie Yann Danis stopped 29 shots in the loss.

Tonight’s Matchup: The Devils had a solid effort against the Florida Panthers Thursday night, but the offense came out on the short end of the stick. Clemmensen had a big hand in that, stonewalling the Devils and thwarting their best efforts tie the game. With the Islanders inability to even look competitive against the Penguins, the Devils fell back into a tie for second seed in the conference and first in the Atlantic Division.

The Devils effort in the past three games hasn’t been terrible. As a matter of fact, I’d say they’re playing some great hockey. Thursday night was a letdown, but the team still played hard. They come into tonight’s game playing the Islanders, a team that always plays the Devils tough. The Devils can’t take this team lightly. They’re always a thorn in the Devils’ side, and they have some young guys licking their lips and ready to play the spoiler. To prevent a loss, the Devils just need to continue to play solid hockey. Pittsburgh provided a solid blueprint for defeating the Islanders. Drive to the net and put shots on their goalies. Biron (who I’m sure Philadelphia wants back now) and Roloson aren’t superstars by any stretch of the imagination. If the Devils can continue their aggressive style, they should be able to win this game.

Update (5:17 p.m.): None of the regular players will be getting any rest tonight. Coach Jacques Lemaire wanted to rest defenseman Colin White, but relented when White begged him to play. If the Devils win tonight and the Penguins lose, they can clinch their ninth Atlantic Division. If the Devils win and both the Penguins and Buffalo lose, the Devils win the division and clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference. So, let’s go Thrashers and Senators!

Gametime is 7 p.m., and you can catch all the action on MSGPlus or WFAN.

Use this as tonight's open game thread. Comment, banter, and please talk only about the NHL action going on between the Devils and Islanders or some other games of importance. Also, make sure you keep it clean and respectful.

Last season, Florida Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen won 25 games with the New Jersey Devils while filling in for a then-injured Martin Brodeur.

Clemmensen, facing his former team, stopped 42 shots to lead the Panthers over the Devils, 3-2, at the BankAtlantic Center.

Clemmensen, who signed a three-year contract with Florida in July, faced his former team for the second time this season. He won his first start, stopping 26 shots in a 4-2 win on December 26.

Patrik Elias opened the scoring 59 seconds into the second period. Clemmensen stopped the initial shot, and a rebound chance went off the crossbar. Elias tipped the loose puck past Clemmensen for his 17th goal of the season.

Michael Frolik tied the game at 6:03 of the period. Frolik received a cross-ice pass from Nathan Horton and put a shot on net. The puck deflected off the stick of Rob Niedermayer and beat Brodeur for the tying goal.

Frolik’s goal ended the Devils’ shutout streak of 151 minutes and 29 seconds, which is the third longest in franchise history.

Radek Dvorak put the Panthers ahead, 2-1, 1:14 into the third period. Rostislav Olesz fed Dvorak with a backhanded pass from below the goal line. Dvorak put the shot past Brodeur’s pads for his 14th goal of the season.

Horton stretched the Panthers lead to 3-1 at 12:23 of the period. The center beat Brodeur with a shot from the left circle for his 19th goal of the lead.

Brodeur finished with 15 saves in the loss.

Mike Mottau brought the Devils to within one at 14:46 of the period. But it would be too litte, too late, as the Devils couldn’t get the tying goal.

With the win, the Devils fell back into a tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Atlantic Division lead. Both teams have identical 46-27-7 records, and each team has 99 points. The Devils still hold first place because of their season sweep of the Penguins.

Game Notes:

David Clarkson and Nick Tarnasky dropped the gloves at 2:07 in the third period. Clarkson landed more punches, but both players had trouble keeping their balance…Devils’ defenseman Colin White caught an edge and went hard into the boards at 17:52 of the second period. White got up slowly and skated off the ice, but was fine after the game…Devils’ coach Jacques Lemaire, who wants to try and rest some of his regular players, made defenseman Andy Greene a healthy scratch tonight.

Photo Credit: Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo