Flyers try to avoid seventh straight loss as they face Rangers
The Flyers will try to avoid their second seven game losing streak of the season as they welcome in the New York Rangers. After a 5-0-2 stretch, Philadelphia has gone 0-4-2 in their last six games. And there was the 10-game losing streak before that as well.
This is the second of four matchups between the two teams. The Rangers gave the Flyers a seventh loss in a row the last time these two faced off. It was New York’s fourth win in a row at the time. Morgan Frost scored his first goal of the season in the loss.
Philadelphia is coming off a 3-2 loss against the Bruins in which they ran out of time in their comeback attempt. Cam Atkinson and Joel Farabee, who have been most of the team’s offense lately, each scored in the loss. David Pastrnak, with two power play goals, scored everything Boston needed.
The Rangers are coming off a 3-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Sharks. Igor Shesterkin, who had just returned from COVID protocols, had the 37-save shutout. Braden Schneider scored in his NHL debut. Chris Kreider grabbed two on the win as well.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 13-16-7 (33 points, 6th in Metro)
The Flyers find themselves going in a completely opposite direction than their opponent. Their record lately shows how bleak things have been for Philadelphia during this span of games. They’re 3-4-3 in their last 10 games. They face an uphill battle in the division standings, but can’t let that get in their heads.
This will be another test for Philadelphia. The Rangers have played well this season and getting ahead of them on the scoreboard early on will be huge. They are a tough defensive team so the Flyers will need to keep their foot on the gas all night long.
They will also need to get offense from other places if they want to be successful. Cam Atkinson and Joel Farabee have carried the scoring and will be on the top line once again for this one. But the Flyers cannot continue to rely on them to score goals. They need to get contributions from elsewhere. Having Travis Konecny break out of his drought would be huge. He’s done everything but score and getting him off that drought may open the floodgates.
Carter Hart likely deserved a better fate against Boston and he’ll have another chance to earn a better one evening. His last win came on December 14th, but that isn’t necessarily an indictment of his play.
Projected Lineup
Farabee – Giroux – Atkinson
van Riemsdyk – Hayes – Mayhew
Lindblom – Laughton – Konecny
Cates – Frost – MacEwen
Provorov – Braun
York – Sanheim
Yandle – Seeler
Hart
New York Rangers
Record: 24-10-4 (52 points, 1st in Metro)
Talk about a team that has made a quick turnaround. The Rangers have been among the best teams in the league as they have the third best record in the NHL, when you look at points.
This is the final game of a five-game road trip that has had the Rangers on the road for 11 days. So they’ll be itching to get back home after this. They have enjoyed playing the Flyers as they’ve won the last two meetings between the teams and have points in the last seven games.
Overall, New York has won five of its last seven games and has a point in seven of their last 10, going 6-3-1 during that stretch. Artemi Panarin also enjoys playing Philadelphia as he has a four goals and 15 points in the last 10 games against the Flyers. Panarin is second on the Rangers in points (36), just one behind Adam Fox (37).
Speaking of Fox, he’s following up his Norris season with yet another strong campaign. He has just five goals, but leads the team with 32 assists as well as his lead in points. Chris Kreider, who has cooled off slightly, has 23 goals on the season, 10 more than the next closer Ranger.
Shesterkin is in the midst of a Vezina-like season. His 1.99 GAA is third among all goaltenders and he ranks second with a 2.39 SV%. He has shutouts in his last two games and will be making his second straight start for the Rangers.
Projected Lineup
Kreider – Zibanejad – Kakko
Panarin – Strome – Chytil
McKegg – Rooney – Reaves
Gettinger – Barron – Gauthier
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Nemeth – Schneider
Shesterkin
When, Where, and How to Watch
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV Broadcast: NBCSP
Radio Broadcast: 93.3 WMMR
Live Stream: Fubo TV
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