The New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers open their seasons in a Thursday night game at the Wells Fargo Center. Opening puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.. ET (HULU). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Devils vs. Flyers, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
New Jersey logged 63 points last season. finishing 7th in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils coughed up 3.68 goals per game which ranked 29th in the NHL. Looking to improve on that defense, New Jersey went out and acquired G Vitek Vanecek in a trade with the Washington Capitals.
The Flyers were the only club behind the Devils last season; they filed just 61 points on 2.56 GPG and 3.59 goals allowed per contest. That offensive output ranked 31st in the league, and Philadelphia responded by switching bench bosses; it brought in coach John Tortorella in the offseason.
New Jersey won 2 of 3 games vs. the Flyers last season.