The New York Rangers continue to heat up in 2025 after a 5-0 shutout victory against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. The win pushed their record to 7-1-3 in 2025 and one step closer to a playoff spot.
The Blueshirts are getting hot at the right time. Their last three games were against teams within two points of them in the Eastern Conference. New York went 2-0-1 in those three games, inching closer to the eighth seed. Their next contest will also be against a team close to them in the standings, the Philadelphia Flyers, who also have 50 points on the year.
Tale of the Tape
The Rangers come into the game with a 23-20-4 record. They are fifth in the Metropolitan Division and 11th in the conference. They are 6-1-3 in their lost 10 games and are 11-9-2 at Madison Square Garden. They average 2.94 goals per game, take 29.7 shots on goal, and have a power play success rate of 20.2%. Defensively, they allow 3.02 goals per game, 31 shots on goal, and kill off 83.6% of penalties.
Artemi Panarin is the leading scorer on the team with 20 goals, 29 assists, 49 points, and a -6 rating. Igor Shesterkin is expected to be in net. On the season, Shesty has a 16-15-2 record, a 2.78 goals-against average, and three shutouts — two of them coming in his most recent two games.
The Flyers come into the matchup with a 22-20-6 record. They sit just behind the Rangers in the division and are 12th in the conference. Philly has been solid in their last 10 games, going 5-3-2 and they are 11-9-5 on the road this year. They average 3.02 goals per game, take 27.3 shots on goal, and have a power play success rate of 16.4%. Defensively, they allow 3.31 goals per game, 26.4 shots on goal, and kill off 77.9% of penalties.
Travis Konecny is the leading scorer on the Flyers with 21 goals, 33 assists, 54 points, and a +2 rating. Samuel Ersson is expected to be in the crease. He has a 14-7-2 record, a 2.70 goals-against-average, and has two shutouts on the season.
In the team's previous 10 matchups, the Rangers hold a 7-2-1 record. However, the Flyers have won the last two matchups. The previous game came in late November where Philly won 3-1. Konecny (two) and Bobby Brink scored for Philadelphia, with Vincent Trocheck tallying one for the Blueshirts.
The Ever-Important Playoff Implications
Both teams sit two points out of the seven and eight seeds. No matter which team wins, they both have a chance to jump into a playoff spot, depending on what the teams ahead of them do. The Rangers have done exceptional in big games as of late, and this one is no different. Puck drop on Tuesday is currently set for 7 p.m. EST in the Garden.