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Recap: Devils Crush Flyers 7-0 on Night Honoring 2003 Stanley Cup Team

Date: February 28, 2023

By: Joe Walls

The 2003 Devils with the Stanley Cup.

Rich Graessle/USA TODAY Sports

Another big win during this homestand for the New Jersey Devils (39-15-5) as they played host to rival Philadelphia (23-28-10) at the Prudential Center and beat them 7-0.

It was close during the first period as the Flyers outshot the Devils 11-6. However, the second period is when the Devils came alive. They took a commanding lead behind goals from Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer and Jonas Siegenthaler.

On a night dedicated to the 2003 Stanley Cup championship team, it felt like an almost flawless game from New Jersey, as they dominated every single stat of the night besides takeaways and hits.

While one might believe the Devils would play more conservative in the third period, they instead came out firing just as fast as the second.

They started off the period with back-to-back goals from Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton and snuffed out the Flyers for the remainder of the game. Even without Vanecek in net, Akira Schmid had a game to remember for New Jersey, blocking 24 shots from the Philadelphia offense.

The Devils continued to add on later in the third period as both Jesper Bratt and Nathan Bastian netted goals within seconds of one another. This game felt like one of the most complete outings the Devils have had all season.

Both Lindy Ruff and Dawson Mercer talked about what it meant to have the team from 2003 in the building. Mercer made a point that “It meant a lot to have them in the building…you could definitely feel the atmosphere when they came out…It’s the mentality with a winning team and hopefully we can continue that”.

Lindy Ruff was also quite proud of the team and how they preformed on a night like tonight: “To honor the team the way we did, couldn’t ask for anything better.”

However, having the cup team in town was not the only major landmark by the Devils. For starters, Dawson Mercer broke Scott Gomez’s record for most games started to start a career, which he made a point of in his interview post game saying, “It was cool to have him in the building for that…it’s a special moment to have him give it to me.”

It was also Akira Schmid’s first career shutout in the NHL. This isn’t the first time Schmid has stepped up, as Ruff put it: “(Schmid) has been a key to our success all year.” Pointing out how he had to step up at different times after McKenzie Blackwood was injured earlier in the season and is now out again.

Looking at the final stat lines, the Devils outshot the Flyers 36-24, they had more blocked shots at 14-11, more faceoffs won at 33-26, and they were equal on takeaways.

The only bright spot for the Philadelphia side was the fact that they were being physical, with both Nick Seeler starting a fight, and the Flyers out hitting the Devils 17-10. Though if you’re Lindy Ruff and this squad, the finesse on offense is enough to make up for physicality.

For more coverage of all Devils home games stay locked to WSOU sports on social media as well as here on WSOU.net for their next home game on March 7 against the Maple Leafs.

Joe Walls can be reached at joseph.walls@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, NHL, New Jersey Devils

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