The 2024 Stadium Series is only a few days away, and Full Press Hockey brings you continuing coverage. During a special media event held at MetLife Stadium, Deputy Commissioner of the NHL Bill Daly and Devils Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Martin Brodeur met the media.
The Deputy Commissioner and Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender answered questions and discussed what it means to bring the Stadium Series to New Jersey. Especially now, with the way the Devils are playing, there is added meaning and value to these games now.
“Actually, it was something we talked about this morning internally; it’s great that there’s going to be two games that are very meaningful in the standings,” Daly said. “And that always means a good game, or good games, as the case may be. So I think that’s fantastic.”
A lot is riding on these two games this weekend at MetLife Stadium. The New York Rangers are chasing a Metro Division title. The Philadelphia Flyers are holding down the third seed in the Metro Division. Then, of course, you have the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders chasing down the Flyers for the third spot and a wild card position.
Every outdoor game is important; however, for the first time in the game’s history, there is a little bit more behind gaining two points in the standings.
“We (the NHL) think it does for sure. You know, the games are very meaningful,” Bill Daly said. “I haven’t gone back through the other 39 games we played outdoors to see exactly how many were kind of playoff race type games, but to have two games kind of back to back on consecutive days, and that is kind of the first time we’ve done that with fans where we have games in the same venue, back to back, I think, adds a big element of attraction to these games because it’ll be very competitive.”
The Devils and Flyers are on similar trajectories regarding their competitiveness in the standings. Like New Jersey last year, the Flyers are ahead of schedule this season. But the way these two teams have played this year, expect another competitive game because a lot is riding on this one for both teams.
“It’s always a big one. I think throughout the years I played, we always had some great battles against the Flyers, and it hasn’t changed. I think you see the growth of both teams, especially in the last few years,” Brodeur said. “They’re competitive, and they’re gonna see each other a lot, so it’s kind of nice that you get a game in the Stadium Series like that, that it’s gonna count. You know, we’re chasing them, and they’re right in front of us. And we’re definitely big points for us and a big point for them also. So it should be a really fun game.”
But it is not just another hockey game. It is similar to the Super Bowl, as Brodeur described, with the atmosphere and the outside noise surrounding the event. But as Full Press Hockey has documented, the Devils know what is riding on this game.
While it is just another hockey game, it is not, especially for a team chasing down another in the standings. That is why these games will be more competitive than we have seen in years past.
Though Brodeur and the Devils want to enjoy the moment along with the other teams involved, once the puck drops, as Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier explained last week, there are two points on the line and at the end of the day they are playing a hockey game.
The Devils and Flyers drop the puck a little after 8 pm Saturday Night, while the Rangers and Islanders drop the puck a little after 3 pm on Sunday.
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