Devils fall to Flyers

Philadelphia, PA -Playing on the road for the first time this season, the New Jersey Devils didn't have the performance they hoped for. Against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Devils posted their second consecutive loss of the season dropping the Saturday matchup 5-2.

Here are 10 takeaways from the game:
1. Forward Kevin Rooney made his season debut for the Devils. Rooney was called up from Binghamton Friday afternoon and met the team in Philadelphia. Rooney centered the fourth line with Brian Boyle and Drew Stafford on his wings to start the game. Rooney played 13:29 and registered two hits and two shots on goal.
2. Defenseman Damon Severson scored the opening goal against the Flyers Saturday afternoon. The goal was his first of the season, scored on the powerplay at 4:07. Severson was the beneficiary of a slick cross-ice pass from Marcus Johansson where Severson fired home a slapshot past Flyers netminder Brian Elliott.
Tweet from @NJDevils: Watch this pass from MoJo to Sevo for the 🚨 🔥 #NJDvsPHI pic.twitter.com/giXmtT8w4r
The goal was the first goal scored on the power play this season by the secondary unit.
3. Steven Santini remained patient for his chance to get in the lineup, and he was rewarded with the opportunity Saturday afternoon. The Devils were down a defenseman with Ben Lovejoy not making the trip due to a lower body injury. Santini took Lovejoy's spot, pairing up with Will Butcher. Unfortunately for the defenseman, his afternoon would not last very long. Santini took a puck to the face midway through the first period and did not return to the game. He logged just 2:33 in time on ice.

4. In the absence of Santini, defensive coach Alain Nasreddine had to double shift his players. It was Sami Vatanen who picked up most of the extra minutes, finishing the afternoon with a whopping 28:31 of ice time, setting a new career high for the Finnish defenseman.
   5. Whether they wanted to or not, the Devils penalty killers had to get to work against the Flyers. The Devils took five penalties on Saturday. New Jersey was able to hold the Flyers to just one power play goal on five opportunities.
   6. The absence of veteran Travis Zajac could be felt against the Flyers, especially at the faceoff dot. Zajac has been the model citizen this season in draws, at 62.79%. The Devils, through two periods, won just 21% of their faceoffs. After 60 minutes they Devils had won just 27 percent of their face offs.
   7. Coach John Hynes doesn't always use hulking forward Brian Boyle on the first wave of the power play, but he did so Saturday afternoon in the third period. It paid off as Boyle displayed some slick hands, firing off a shot with Palmieri as a screen in front of Elliott. Boyle snapped one past Elliott to tie the game at two at 2:25 of the third period. It was also Boyle's fourth career goal against Philadelphia.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: And that's why he's 💪. #NJDvsPHI pic.twitter.com/ZOjJP9N3ZM
   The goal was challenge by Philadelphia for goaltender interference but after review, the goal was deemed to count. Will Butcher and Taylor Hall were credited with the assists.
   8. The Devils have started the season scoring power play goals in all six games they've played. New Jersey's power play has scored eight goals on 28 attempts.
   9. Through 60 minutes of play, the Devils took a season-low 21 shots against the Flyers. Their previous season-low was 27.
   10. New Jersey outhit the Flyers 28 to 18 and they also blocked a huge 27 shots.