NEW JERSEY DEVILS (0-0-0) vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (0-1-0)

The Devils open the 2026-27 regular season Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. ET.

Read below for your game preview presented by Training Innovations and check back for the pre-game story.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ - Check back following morning skate around 11:00 a.m. ET.

THE SCOOP

The Devils open their 44th season Thursday night at Prudential Center with the Home Opener presented by Citizens against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Amadeus Lombardi will make his NHL debut after earning a spot through training camp and preseason. The 23-year-old will be joined in the lineup by Stefan Noesen, who draws in with Connor Brown unavailable this week.

New Jersey finished the preseason 3-0-1, closing things out with a 4-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday night.

Philadelphia arrives in New Jersey on the second half of a back-to-back after a difficult start to its season. The Flyers were shut out 7-0 by Pittsburgh Wednesday night, getting outshot 38-19. Dan Vladar played the entire game in goal, with Joseph Woll serving as the backup.

The Flyers are coming off a 98-point season and a trip to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Much of that group returns, including nine of Philadelphia's top 10 goal scorers and all of its top 10 point producers from last season.

Thursday is Philadelphia's first road game and the first of four meetings between the Devils and Flyers this season.

HOME OPENER PRESENTED BY CITIZENS FESTIVITIES

Fans heading to Prudential Center are encouraged to arrive early, with events beginning well before puck drop.

• Championship Plaza opens at 3:00 p.m. for fans looking to secure a spot for player arrivals.

• Red Carpet Arrivals presented by BMW begin at approximately 4:00 p.m. Fans can access either side of the carpet from Market Street or the corner of Edison Place and Mulberry Street and can cross the carpet to claim a spot until 3:45 p.m.

• Fan Fest presented by Citizens follows on Championship Plaza with live entertainment, food trucks, games, partner activations and appearances from NJ Devil, the Woo Crew and Devils Alumni.

• All fans attending the game will receive an LED light stick courtesy of Citizens.

• Fans should allow extra time for security. Prudential Center recommends arriving at least 45 minutes before puck drop.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Luke Evangelista

Evangelista made an immediate impression in his first preseason with New Jersey, recording three points (2g-1a) in two games. Both of his goals came in the Devils' 4-1 preseason finale against the Islanders, including a power-play tally. Evangelista enters Opening Night on a line with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier and has also been seeing time on the top power-play unit.

Flyers: Joseph Woll

Woll put together a strong preseason after being acquired by Philadelphia during the offseason. The goaltender's best performance came in the Flyers' lone exhibition victory, stopping all 28 shots he faced in a 2-0 shutout against Boston. Across his two preseason appearances, Woll stopped 44 of 47 shots for a .936 save percentage.

INJURIES

Devils:

• Connor Brown: Undisclosed, out this week

• Nick Bjugstad: Recovering from torn left pectoral muscle

• Johnathan Kovacevic: Recovering from offseason right-knee procedure

• Seamus Casey: Injured, non-roster

Flyers:

• Nikita Grebenkin: Upper body

• Denver Barkey: Injured Reserve

• Helge Grans: Injured Non-Roster

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Nov. 22 at Philadelphia: L, 6-3
• Nov. 29 vs. Philadelphia: L, 5-3
• Apr. 7 vs. Philadelphia: L, 5-1

GAME NOTES

• The Devils begin their 44th season Thursday and open the regular season at Prudential Center for the first time since 2023-24.

• New Jersey finished the preseason 3-0-1, closing its exhibition schedule with a 4-1 victory over the Islanders.

• Philadelphia finished the preseason 1-3-0, with its lone victory coming in a 2-0 shutout of Boston.

• Philadelphia enters Thursday 0-1-0 after a 7-0 loss to Pittsburgh in its season opener.

• The Flyers were outshot 38-19 Wednesday. Philadelphia went 0-for-3 on the power play and allowed a shorthanded goal.

• Under the NHL's expanded 84-game schedule, the Devils and Flyers will meet four times this season, twice in New Jersey and twice in Philadelphia.

• Jack Hughes led the Devils with 77 points in 61 games last season, including a team-high 50 assists.

• Travis Konecny has led Philadelphia in scoring in each of the past five seasons and finished with 68 points in 77 games last season.
• The Flyers went 18-7-1 following the Olympic break last season to climb into third place in the Metropolitan Division and earn their first playoff berth since 2020.