New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers play Saturday Matinee at Wells Fargo Center
By Conor Power
The red-hot New York Rangers are a problem for the NHL. Contributions from all over the lineup make this a difficult team to slow down, and the fourth line now has two of the tallest players in the league on either side of Barclay Goodrow. Balance in attack, solid at the back, and the re-emergence of Igor Shesterkin to the form that won him a Vezina Trophy many moons ago has seen the Rangers shoot back up the standings.
However, the Rangers will be facing another problematic opponent tonight. The team currently sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division will be the hosts for the Rangers tonight. Despite losing its star goaltender to the Hockey Canada trials in London, Ontario, the Flyers have found a way to remain competitive. We will see whether that changes in the coming weeks with some pending UFAs in the rumor mill in the City of Brotherly Love.
Matt Rempe avoided suspension for his hit that earned him a major penalty and a game misconduct against the New Jersey Devils. He'll keep his place. Igor was spectacular in Newark, so he's expected to go again this afternoon. With Artemi Panarin and Jimmy Vesey both nursing lower-body ailments, Alex Belzile was recalled to be the insurance from the Hartford Wolf Pack. At this point, both of the top-six wingers are expected to go.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Jimmy Vesey
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - Jonny Brodzinski - Kaapo Kakko
Adam Edsrom - Barclay Goodrow - Matt Rempe
K'Andre Miller - Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
Erik Gustafsson - Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Philadelphia Flyers
Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Cam Atkinson
Joel Farabee - Morgan Frost - Travis Konecny
Noah Cates - Ryan Poehling - Garnet Hathaway
Tyson Foerster - Scott Laughton
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Sean Walker
Marc Staal - Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula
Samuel Ersson
Cal Peterson
Puck Drop
This game is a 3 p.m. puck drop from the Wells Fargo Center. New York will be attempting to win its tenth straight game, while the Flyers will be looking to try and cut into the Ranger's lead at the top of the division. A win for the Blueshirts tonight will also move them to the top of the NHL league standings. Whether they want to be a team leading in the chase for the President's Trophy or not, they're almost in the driver's seat for that.