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Devils Dominate Flyers, Aim to Break Islanders Hex
3 Oct
Summary
- Devils dominated Flyers in opener, controlling 69.98% of expected goals.
- Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, an 18-year-old defenseman, played over 27 minutes.
- Devils lost all four games to the Islanders last season.
The New Jersey Devils opened their 2026-27 season with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers. New Jersey controlled the game statistically, holding a significant advantage in shots and expected goals at 5-on-5, though their power play struggled. This victory marked a positive start, especially against a Metropolitan Division opponent, a group the Devils faltered against last season.
The Devils are now set to face the New York Islanders, a team that swept them in the 2025-26 season series. The Islanders, who lost their season opener 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, are under new full-time head coach Pete DeBoer. A key player for New York is rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who played an impressive 27 minutes and 45 seconds in his season debut, showcasing his significant role despite being only 18 years old.
