Just one day after Mike Yeo ended Keith Yandle’s Ironman streak before facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers will now travel to “the city that never sleeps,” where they will battle divisional rivals, the New York Rangers.
Philadelphia saw a much-need, yet simultaneously tasteless, roster change when Yandle was benched in favor of debuting Ronnie Attard, a 6’3” 208-pound defenseman who the Flyers drafted in the third-round back in 2019. While the timing of ending the streak came in poor taste, there is no doubt Yandle’s play would have caused him to be scratched before actually achieving the Ironman feat had the Flyers not struggled with injury and been forced to play with a team that was mostly made up of AHL talent.
Still, it soured many Flyers fans heading into yesterday’s matchup in Toronto and surely won’t calm the complaints until they get a taste for Ronnie Attard and whether or not they like him.
Nate Thompson also made his return to Philadelphia’s lineup after being sidelined in the first quarter of the season due to injury. The 37-year-old is likely going to take up a bottom-six roster spot for the remainder of the season, despite having one point in his 19 games played this year, and a -8 in the +/- column. Thompson was originally meant to take Hayden Hodgson’s place in the lineup prior to the announcement that Travis Konecny (illness) would be forced to miss the game in Toronto.
The lineup will look a lot different as both Nick Seeler and Zack MacEwen were injured in the loss to the Leafs.
Projected Lineup
Konecny – Farabee – Atkinson
van Riemsdyk – Hayes – Tippett
Cates – Frost – Hodgson
Lindblom – Brown – Thompson
Provorov – York
Sanheim – Ristolainen
Connauton – Attard
Jones
New York Rangers
Record: 44-20-5 (93 pts, 2nd in Metro)
The New York Rangers have been on a tear this season that has put them just a handful of points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the lead spot in the Metropolitan Division. The entire team has been electric compared to past years, but four skaters have exceeded expectations and helped earn the Rangers the kind of season that they are having. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 80 points, followed by Mika Zibanejad with 70 points.
Star defenseman and defending Norris-trophy-winner Adam Fox has also set out to prove his case that he might deserve the Norris again this year. Fox has 66 points in 66 appearances, putting him third in scoring amongst all NHL defenseman, behind only Roman Josi and Cale Makar.
Lastly, veteran forward Chris Kreider has been putting the puck in the net so much that he’s on pace to make history for the Rangers. Kreider, with 46 goals on the season so far, is just eight more away from tying franchise legend Jaromir Jagr for most goals scored in a season in Rangers history. He currently owns the seventh place spot for most goals scored in a season.
Vezina-trophy-front-runner, Igor Shesterkin should also be credited a large amount for the team’s success this year. Shesterkin has a record of 32-10-3 in his 45 appearances this year, average 2.13 goals against and .934 save percentage. The Rangers goaltender may also find himself in the running for the Hart Trophy, which he has certainly earned the right to be in the conversation. The Rangers would not be in the position that they are now without Shesterkin and that Rangers defense playing in front of him.
Projected Lineup
Kreider – Zibanejad – Vatrano
Panarin – Copp – Hunt
Lafreniere – Chytil – Goodrow
Motte – McKegg – Reaves
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Nemeth – Schneider
Shesterkin
When, Where, & How to Watch
Time: 7:00 pm EST
Where: Madison Square Garden
TV Broadcast: NBCSP
Radio Broadcast: 93.3 WMMR
Live Stream: Fubo TV
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