When many people look back to ask where this New Jersey Devils (14-29-3) hot streak started, they can take a look at January 8 as the day it began.
In that game, a 2-1 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers (31-11-5), New Jersey saw Martin Brodeur shut out the Flyers in a relief appearance and silence a threatening offense.
Since that loss, the Devils are 4-0-1, with Brodeur peaking and the team finding a way to score.
The Devils will look to avenge that January 8 loss as the face the Flyers this afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers lead the season series, 3-0-1. They've won the last three meetings, their most recent the 2-1 win on January 8. James van Riemsdyk and Danny Briere paced the attack, and Brian Boucher finished with 34 saves.
Philadelphia carries its own hot streak into today's game. The Flyers are unbeaten in their last four games. The team also is fully healthy, with Chris Pronger returning to the ice in Philadelphia's 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators Saturday.
The Devils, once unbeatable against Philadelphia, have been dominated by their Atlantic Division rivals. Counting last season, Philadelphia is 8-1-1 against New Jersey. Those numbers don't include last year's playoffs, where the Flyers eliminated the Devils in five games.
Johan Hedberg will start for New Jersey. The backup goalie's last start came in Philadelphia, when he was pulled after allowing two goals on 10 shots in the last game between these teams.
Both teams enter the game at different ends of the standings. The Flyers are first in the league with 67 points, tying them for third most in franchise history through 47 games. The Devils trail the Islanders by six points for last place in the league.