3 Things: Devils @ Flyers 2/13/18

The New Jersey Devils will take on the Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Divisional matchup that takes places tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. This game has huge playoff implications as the two teams are only separated by three points in the standings, but the Devils have a game in hand on the Flyers.

Here are three things to look for in tonight's game:

1.) DISCIPLINE- FLYERS

The Flyers need to find a way to carry over the discipline that they played with in Las Vegas into this game. The Orange and Black only took one penalty while playing a road game in Vegas. Philadelphia  has one of the worst penalty kill units in the League, only killing off 74.4% of the penalties taken. Their penalty kill at home is somehow worse than the overall penalty kill at just 72%. The Flyers need to avoid taking penalties especially the ones that are not necessary to take like high sticking and hooking.

2.) GET FIRST GOAL- DEVILS

New Jersey will want to get off to a good start in this game and get the first goal of the game to take the crowd out of the game. The Flyers have been good on home ice of late so if the Devils want to take the crowd out of the game then they will need to be ready to play from the start of the game. The Devils are a much better team when scoring the first goal of the game, but have also had some wins when the opposition has scored first. If the Devils can manage to get the early lead, they will have to keep attacking and not sit back because the Flyers have won 13 games when the opposition scores the first goal of the game.

3.) GOALTENDING- DEVILS & FLYERS

The goaltending is going to be a big factor in this game and something to keep a close eye on. Keith Kinkaid will get the start for the Devils, while Michael Neurvirth looks to get the start for the Flyers. Kinkaid and the Devils have really struggled since losing Cory Schneider to an injury. Kinkaid will need to have one of his best games of the season to grab two points. Neuvirth is coming off of a big game against the Vegas Golden Knights where he only allowed one goal against. The goaltenders are going to have to step up their game tonight because these two teams will get scoring chances. The goalies could be the difference makers for these teams tonight.