Tonight’s game will be the first of home-and-home games between the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, as the preseason winds down.
By Patrick Comia
It’s almost showtime for John Hynes and the new-look Devils.
October 9th is the night to mark on your calendar, as the team finally plays their first game of the 2015-2016 season. However, there are still two preseason games to play before that becomes reality.
The #NJDevils take the @PruCenter ice and morning skate is underway. #NJDCamp pic.twitter.com/HLFxHjToU8
— New Jersey Devils (@NHLDevils) September 30, 2015
Their opponents are none other than the orange people, the Philadelphia Flyers.
They might be perhaps the closest thing to the bane of every NHL team’s existence. Those bright orange jerseys, the snarl of the players and fans, the rough-housing and bully tactics that takes place on the ice.
But what better to prove you belong in this league, than to have a date in the “city of brotherly love”.
How ironic.
Tonight’s game will be the first of two back-to-back clashes, each team playing host to the other. Tonight, the stage will be the Wells Fargo Center.
Here are two things to watch for the Devils:
Young Guns
What’s been refreshing to see out of this year’s training camp and preseason is the organization’s willingness to play the youth.
Prospects like Pavel Zacha, Reid Boucher, and Joseph Blandisi have shown promise in their time with the team. Perhaps, they may make the final cut when all is said and done.
If not, Devils fans will be chomping at the bit to see these boys again. They are blend of toughness and playmaking ability rolled into one.
And what is scary is that their play this preseason has garnered attention, and may make veterans wary of their job security. Mainly, this would pertain to the recent chatter about alternate captain Travis Zajac to the Toronto Maple leafs.
Also, the possibility of Stefan Matteau (Devils 2012 first-round draft choice) making the roster makes the youth movement that much more exciting to watch.
But, will it be reality on John Hynes team?
Power Play
It’s going to be something to watch for these next two games. Has Coach Hynes been better at handling the Devils with the man-advantage and short-handed situations?
Particularly against the Boston Bruins, a five-man attack was used on the power play when they attempted to enter to cross the opponent’s blue line. It was met with little success, where a Bruins defender just needed to step into a Devils attacker and off to the races, cause no one was back to defend.
I would be curious to see if this tactic gets changed by Hynes or if believes so much in this approach to give it another try?
Nine days…#RELENTLESS pic.twitter.com/uWgB7m55ZS
— New Jersey Devils (@NHLDevils) September 30, 2015
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