Devils Vs. Flyers, Game 4: New Jersey Dominates Again, Takes 3-1 Series Lead

Even if they didn’t deserve it.

The night went much like Game 2 of the series. With a chance to take a 2-0 lead, Philadelphia was vastly outplayed last Tuesday. That night, the Devils outshot the Flyers by a 35-20 margin, and they also led in missed shots, 12-5. Throw in the fact that Philly skaters blocked 23 shots while Jersey players only needed to block 12, and the lopsided 70-37 margin between the shots attempted by each club is very indicative of which team had possession of the puck for the majority of the game and which end of the ice the action was taking place.

They’ve been hard on the forecheck, pinning the Flyers defense in deep and keeping the puck away from them. It’s given the Flyers fits when they try to break out of their own end, and they haven’t been able to establish any type of offensive rhythm as a result. That’s been true for much of the series, it was true again on Sunday night, and if it’s true in Game 5, the Devils will be off to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Puck is gone. Primary point of contact is the head. Zubrus seemed to be alright afterward, but we’ll have to see if any injury comes out of this. It’s an illegal hit, and if this were the regular season, it’d probably be a suspendable hit. As we’ve learned in these playoffs, though, the NHL is reluctant to toss out star players in these situations, and the two-minute minor penalty for head contact might be the only discipline resulting from the play.

They blew their timeout, they blew their lead and they’ve been completely out-classed by their opponent in the first 20 minutes of this game. The Flyers may have held a 2-0 lead, but they’re lucky to even be in the mix in Game 4 after the first period of play.

For more on the Devils, check in with In Lou We Trust, and for more on the Flyers, check in with Broad Street Hockey.