Blue Line Station
Fansided

Game Preview: Heave ho, New York Rangers aim to make it three in a row

By Jason Katinas

Feb 18, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save against New York Rangers right wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) on a penalty shot during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save against New York Rangers right wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) on a penalty shot during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty displays a sign during the first period in a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers . (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty displays a sign during the first period in a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers . (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Gritty may need a bigger sign

The Philadelphia Flyers are a team in distress. They have lost four of their last five games, with the last being nationally televised. After taking a 2-1 lead over the Boston Bruins with five minutes remaining in the first period the game quickly became a blowout. The Bruins scored the next five goals, including four in the second to chase Carter Hart.

It was a mistake by the NHL to have the shorthanded Flyers, with six players on the COVID-19 Protocol List, play at Lake Tahoe. Six players out at any time would be tough for any team, but being without much of their top tier players doomed the Flyers against an elite Bruins squad.

The Flyers current COVID list includes:

Justin Braun|
Travis Konecny
Scott Laughton
Oskar Lindblom
Jakub Voracek

The Flyers get some respite though as Claude Giroux has been cleared from the NHL COVID Protocol List. Giroux has 11 points in 13 games played this season, but has not seen game action since February 7th. Though he said “I feel great”, there is no telling how the rust of a 17 day layoff will affect his play.

Brian Elliott is expected to start in net.

Home/Analysis