Rangers face a Flyers team looking for revenge
The New York Rangers are in Philadelphia for two key games in their drive for a playoff spot. The playoffs are just one of many storylines going into this game. For the Flyers, they will be seeking revenge for the 9-0 humiliation they endured just over a week ago.
Storyline #1 – Playoff implications
Going into this game, the Rangers are two points behind the fifth place Flyers and four points behind the fourth place Bruins. The Blueshirts have played the same number of games as the Flyers, but the Bruins have three games in hand.
It appears that the Islanders and Capitals are pulling away in the East so the Rangers have to focus their attention on catching either Boston or Pittsburgh. Of course, they will have to pass Philadelphia first. As far as the playoffs go, the Rangers must get points in every game.
Storyline #2 – Revenge
The 9-0 thrashing absorbed by the Flyers last week was their worst loss in years. Most observers noted that it was one of the most one-sided games seen in the NHL in recent memory. The Flyers were lifeless and their lack of compete was embarrassing. It was probably a good idea that the Blueshirts took their foot off the gas pedal in the third period as it already verged on humiliation.
How have the Flyers responded? They came back the next night to beat the Islander, 4-3. It wasn’t easy as they blew a three goal lead in the third period and it took an Oskar Lindblom goal with less than three minutes left to get the win.
They didn’t use the win as impetus for a streak. They lost the next two games to the Isles and then dropped a 4-3 decision to the Devils. They’ve won only four out of their last 13 games.
The Rangers to be careful. A slumping team is a dangerous team, especially when they have incentive to win.
Storyline #3 – Shesterkin is back
The Rangers are getting their number one netminder back after he missed 10 games with a groin injury. He was playing well, but not lights out when he was injured and they will need him to steal games if the Rangers are to have any playoff hopes.
How has Shesterkin done coming back from injuries? Last February he beat Chicago 6-3 after missing three games with an ankle injury. In March he gave up five goals to the Devils in his return after a car accident. When he returned from his groin injury during the Stanley Cup Qualifier, he allowed three goals in a 4-1 loss.
Storyline #4 – Will Strome/Panarin/Kakko continue to gel
As the Rangers line roulette wheel keeps turning and with Vitali Kravtsov looming as an option on right wing, a key question is whether that new second line will build on their performance in the win over Buffalo. The key is Kaapo Kakko. After going scoreless for 19 games, he netted two goals following his linemates’ instructions. After the game he said that they told him “go to the net and we’ll get you the puck.” That’s exactly what happened on the first Ranger goal.
If this line can gel, it will make the integration of Kravtsov into the lineup much easier, whenever that will happen.
About the Rangers
With Brett Howden out due to COVID and the annoucement that Vitali Kravtsov will not play, the lineup against the Flyers should be the same as the group that took on the Sabres on Monday. The only difference will be in goal where Igor Shesterkin is finally returning from his “minor” groin injury.
Shesterkin missed 10 games with the injury. He has played the Flyers only once in his career, a 4-3 loss in February. His Save Percentage (Sv%) of .921 and Goals Against Average (GAA) of 2.31 is seventh in the NHL among goalies who have appeared in 15 games or more. 29 netminders who have been in that many games have more wins than Shesterkin’s six.
Phil Di Giuseppe is very close to returning and could be removed from the NHL’s COVID list by 5pm today. He will need some practices before he is ready to return to action
PDG is back skating and it's a rollercoaster. 😂 pic.twitter.com/HhwvWnA5Qk
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 25, 2021
This could be Kris Knoblauch’s last game behind the bench as he indicated that David Quinn may be on the road to recovery. The quarantine requirement is a minimum of seven days and Quinn and his staff are past that. It all depends on getting medical clearance. Jacques Martin and Greg Brown have been cleared and joined the team for this game.
#NYR pregame updates:
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 25, 2021
-Shesterkin in net tonight vs. PHI
-Otherwise, same lineup as Monday vs. BUF
-Coaches Jacques Martin and Greg Brown have been cleared from COVID protocol and have joined the team in Philadelphia
If this is it, Knoblauch will be returning to a Wolf Pack team that won on Thursday, beating Providence 4-2. Morgan Barron scored two goals to give him seven on the season and Tarmo Reunanen chipped in with two assists. The other goals scorers were James Sanchez and Ty Ronning. Adam Huska was in net for the win.
Sanchez was signed by the Wolf Pack after finished the season with Arizona State University. He’s a left winger who played with the U.S. National Development team and the University of Michigan.
Here is the projected lineup:
20 Kreider– 93 Zibanejad – 89 Buchnevich
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 24 Kakko
13 Lafrenière – 72 Chytil- 43 Blackwell
48 Lemieux – 17 Rooney – 12 Gauthier
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
79 Miller – 8 Trouba
25 Hajek – 42 Smith
31 Shesterkin
40 Georgiev
About the Flyers
As previously mentioned, the Flyers have been slumping with only four wins in the month of March. They are relatively healthy with only Morgan Frost and Robert Hagg out long term.
Kevin Hayes normally feasts on the Rangers, but he has now gone eight games without a goal. The line to watch is their top line of Van Riemsdyk, Couturier and Farabee. They’ve combined for 52 points in 19 games.
Carter Hart gets the start tonight. He allowed four goals in relief of Brian Elliott in the 9-0 loss. After two excellent season, Hart is having a tough year with an 8-8-3 record and a mediocre 3.85 GAA and .875 Sv%.
Here is the projected lineup:
25 James Van Riemsdyk – 14 Sean Couturier – 86 Joel Farabee
28 Claude Giroux – 13 Kevin Hayes -11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom -19 Nolan Patrick – 93 Jakub Voracek
12 Michael Raffl – 21 Scott Laughton – 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
9 Ivan Provorov – 61 Justin Braun
6 Travis Sanheim – 5 Philippe Myers
53 Shayne Gostisbehere – 55 Samuel Morin
79 Carter Hart
37 Brian Elliott
This season
The teams have played four times and have split the season series with both teams taking five of a possible eight points.
February 18 – Rangers 3, Flyers 2 (Shootout)
February 24 – Flyers 4, Rangers 3
March 15 – Flyers 5, Rangers 4 (Overtime)
March 17 – Rangers 9, Flyers 0
3 Keys to winning
- Get an early lead – There’s nothing like a “here we go again” feeling to help a team lose. If the Rangers can jump out to an early lead, the Flyers could end up folding like a tent. Letting the Flyers get ahead will only give them confidence.
- Draw penalties, score on the power play – The power play saved the Rangers on Monday. While still guilty of overpassing, when they did get pucks to the front of the net, Chris Kreider was there to put the pucks home. Have they figured out that this is a strategy that works? Maybe. Only six teams are worse on the penalty kill than the Flyers. Take advantage of that.
- Shoot the puck! The Flyers have allowed 42 goals in their last nine games. They have dropped to 31st overall in the NHL, allowing 3.52 goals per game. They are still in the top ten when it comes to goal scoring averaging 3.10 goals per game, but with the Rangers defense, the Blueshirts should have the advantage, if they shoot the puck.
East Division
All eight East Division teams are in action Thursday.
Tonight’s schedule
Rangers @ Flyers
Islanders @ Bruins
Devils @ Capitals
Sabres @ Penguins
Wednesday’s game
Penguins 5, Sabres 2
Standings
1- Islanders 33 21-8-4 46 points
2- Washington 31 20-7-4 44 points
3- Pittsburgh 33 20-11-2 42 points
4- Boston 28 16-8-4 36 points
5- Philadelphia 31 15-12-4 34 points
6- Rangers 31 14-13-4 32 points
7- New Jersey 30 12-14-4 28 points
8- Buffalo 31 6-21-4 16 points
About the game and join the live conversation
The game starts at 7pm and it will be It will be televised on the MSG2 Network with the radio call on WEPN 1050AM,
Be sure and join the live conversation here on Blue Line Station. The live thread can be found in the conversations section (below). The thread is active now and will be throughout the game so you can compare notes with your fellow Ranger fans as they go for three in a row and a tie for fifth place.
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