New Jersey vs Philadelphia Prediction 1 October 2026
🔊 New Jersey open their regular season at home, facing an opponent who already have one game under their belt. Over the summer, the Devils significantly revamped their offense. Philadelphia kick off their campaign with back-to-back games within the Metropolitan Division, but their first test ended on a sour note-Rick Tocchet’s side conceded heavily to Pittsburgh on home ice. Now, the Flyers are set for an immediate challenge against New Jersey’s retooled attack.
Last season belonged to Philadelphia.
📊 Recent head-to-head matchups have not favored New Jersey-the Devils have lost four straight against Philadelphia. These games have been anything but tight affairs: in each of their last four meetings, both teams combined for at least six goals. Heading into this new clash, that trend is especially intriguing considering how the Flyers opened their campaign this season.
Head-to-head statistics New Jersey - Philadelphia
They have added more depth to their attack.
Last season, New Jersey wrapped up their campaign with a 42-37-3 record, falling short of the playoffs. One of their main issues was a lack of offensive depth, as the team averaged just 2.76 goals per game. This summer, the roster received a significant boost up front. Anthony Mantha joined after a career-best year-posting 64 points and 33 goals for Pittsburgh. Luke Evangelista contributed 56 points for Nashville, while Evan Rodrigues also arrived as a fresh addition.
The Devils closed out their preseason with three wins in four games. Their final tune-up saw them dispatch the Islanders 4-1, converting on one of two power-play opportunities. New Jersey will open the regular season without injured players Casey, Kovacevic, and Bjugstad. One of the key questions heading into the new campaign is the goaltending situation following Jacob Markstrom’s departure; Jake Allen and Nico Daws remain the primary options between the pipes.
Match Results: New Jersey Devils
A one-sided game
Philadelphia’s opening official game quickly turned into a nightmare. The Flyers trailed Pittsburgh 2-0 after the first period and found themselves down 5-0 by the second intermission. The final numbers told the story: outshot 38-19, and a heavy 7-0 defeat on the scoreboard. Daniel Vladar conceded seven goals from 38 shots faced.
The Flyers also failed to shift the momentum through their special teams. They went 0-for-3 on the power play, while also conceding a shorthanded goal. On the penalty kill, Philadelphia managed to stop just two of Pittsburgh’s four opportunities. Matvei Michkov registered a single shot on target, while rookie Porter Martone finished without a shot and committed several turnovers. Heading into just their second game of the season, the Flyers are already searching for answers after one of the most disappointing starts imaginable.
Match Results: Philadelphia Flyers
⚡️ Key Players
New Jersey have yet to kick off their regular season campaign, so we’ll look back at last year’s stats. Jack Hughes led the way with 77 points in 61 games-27 goals and 50 assists. Jesper Bratt featured in all 82 contests, tallying 71 points (22 goals, 49 assists). Nico Hischier also played a full season, netting 28 goals and providing 38 assists for a total of 66 points.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, failed to register any points in their season opener. The Flyers struggled to get anything going offensively.
🥅 Goaltenders
With Jakob Markstrom’s departure, New Jersey are left with Jake Allen and Nico Daws between the pipes. Last season, Allen appeared in 37 games, posting 17 wins, 17 losses, and two overtime defeats. He recorded a .904 save percentage, a 2.74 goals-against average, and registered one shutout.
Daws saw limited action with just three starts, winning two and losing one. He turned aside 90.8% of shots faced, finishing with a 2.62 goals-against average. For Philadelphia, Daniel Vladar got the nod in their season opener. Pittsburgh peppered him with 38 shots, seven of which found the back of the net. Vladar made 31 saves for an .816 save percentage and a goals-against average of 7.04.
⭐️ Editor’s Prediction
After Philadelphia’s opening game, their defense raises more concerns than either team’s offense. Pittsburgh fired 38 shots on the Flyers’ net, and Tocchet’s side conceded goals at even strength, shorthanded, and even while on the power play. Meanwhile, New Jersey enter the season on the back of three wins in four preseason games and have added more attacking options over the summer. The head-to-head stats are telling: at least six goals have been scored in each of the last four meetings between these teams. That same benchmark was reached in four of Philadelphia’s last five games as well. After a 0-7 blowout, there’s little reason to expect the Flyers’ defense to turn things around overnight. My pick is over 5.5 total goals.
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