The first trip to Philadelphia on the season for the Devils was an inviting one. The Devils came into Philadelphia on the heels of the team's most complete game of the season over the weekend in Pittsburgh. Things were not as crisp on Tuesday night, but the Devils continued their production, taking a 4-3 victory against a struggling Flyers squad.
Michael McLeod opened the scoring up with a first-period goal, his fourth of the season, dashing around Flyers defenders. A costly penalty allowed the Flyers to get on the board with a Joel Farabee power-play goal and tie the game at one. That was as close as the scoreboard got for the Flyers as the team's recent struggles continued.
The Devils were far from crisp, allowing a few odd man rushes and opportunities for the Flyers to climb back in. Yet, the Flyers could not capitalize and Mackenzie Blackwood did what needed to be done to shut the door on a comeback attempt. Blackwood had 30 saves on the night and fended off some ideal chances late by the Flyers to tie the game.
The power of Palmieri
Kyle Palmieri led the Devils a season ago with 11 power-play goals. More than halfway through the season, Palmieri had been held without a goal during a man advantage. On Tuesday, Palmieri's strike in the final seconds of the first period gave the Devils a 2-1 lead and gave Palmieri his first power-play goal of 2021.
The tally was Palmieri's 53rd career power-play goal for the Devils, tying him with teammate Travis Zajac for fifth-most in team history. Only Patrik Elias (113), John MacLean (92), Kirk Muller (69) and Pat Verbeek (54) have scored more goals with a man advantage as a Devil than Palmieri and Zajac.
Smith gives out gifts
Ty Smith turns 21 years old on Wednesday. For his last game as a 20-year old, the gifts were being handed out by the birthday boy. Smith had two assists on the night, earning points on Michael McLeod's goal in the first period and Zajac's goal to end the second period.
The two assists give Smith 17 points in his rookie season and ties teammate Damon Severson's 2014-15 season for the third-most points by a defensemen before turning 21 years of age in team history. Scott Niedermeyer (86 across two seasons) and Adam Larson (18) are the only defensemen with more points before the age of 21 as a member of the Devils.
Zajac gets No. 199
Zajac struck for the fourth Devils goal in the final minute of the second period. For Zajac, it was his 199th career NHL goal, all for the Devils. Not only will his next goal reach a milestone, but Zajac is currently just three goals away from tying Bobby Holik for third all-time in Devils history. Only Patrik Elias (408) and John MacLean (347) have more goals as a Devil than Zajac or Holik.
Zajac has felt a spark offensively from his linemates Sharangovich and Kuokkanen, known collectively as the "STK line." Zajac has 10 points in his past nine games, including a goal and an assist on Tuesday.
