Rangers prepare to take on Flyers to impress the new 88

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 17: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 17: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 17: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 17: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center on December 17, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

It’s almost showtime in Manhattan. However, it’s not quite time yet for the newest Ranger to make his debut on Broadway. Patrick Kane will be watching the game instead of being involved in it as the Rangers prepare to take on the Philadelphia Flyers. It’s been a while since the Rangers last won, but it will be a full regiment of Blueshirts against the Broadstreet Bullies tonight.

K’Andre Miller was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct for his part in the LA Kings game yesterday, so it is going to be a slightly makeshift D core for the Blueshirts. This will have some effect on the top six as Miller will be unavailable for the next three games, but after seeing how well Ben Harpur and Niko Mikkola played during the LA Kings game where the Blueshirts had just 4 defensemen.

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Ryan Lindgren is still out meaning that the Rangers remain without two of their top four. Whether this has a long-term effect on the roster is yet to be seen but this will be a big chance for Mikkola to step up and show he can play a big role. It’s going to be difficult with the Rangers severely undermanned ahead of tonight’s play against the Flyers, but it will be a good chance for the depth pieces to show they can step up.

New York Rangers

Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Vladimir Tarasenko
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Jimmy Vesey
Alexis Lafreniere – Filip Chytil – Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte – Barclay Goodrow

Braden Schneider – Adam Fox
Niko Mikkola – Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur

Igor Shesterkin
Jaroslav Halak

Philadelphia Flyers

Scott Laughton – Noah Cates – Wade Allison
Joel Farabee – Morgan Frost – Owen Tippett
Nicolas Deslauriers – Elliot Desnoyers – Patrick Brown
James van Riemsdyk – Kevin Hayes

Ivan Provorov – Cam York
Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler – Tony DeAngelo
Justin Braun

Carter Hart
Felix Sandstrom

Puck drop time and where to watch

This is a 7:30 PM Eastern game between the two Metropolitan Division rivals. TNT will have coverage in the States. It will be a fun night for the Blueshirts. Due to their cap reasons, they will be playing undermanned tonight. After tonight, they will get to throw Kane into the lineup and add a defenseman from AHL Hartford on an emergency recall.