Final
Flyers-Rangers Preview
Nov 28, 2015 - 1:45 AM The New York Rangers had been playing some of the NHL's best hockey before running into a pair of disappointing results.They'll look to bounce back Saturday when they host the rival Philadelphia Flyers, who have been the Eastern Conference's worst team over the last month.
New York (16-5-2) went a league-best 11-1-0 from Oct. 25-Nov. 23, but its home winning streak was snapped at nine with Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Montreal before the Rangers collapsed late in a 4-3 loss at Boston on Friday.
The defeat against the Canadiens was the Rangers' largest at Madison Square Garden in more than a year, while the loss to the Bruins marked their first consecutive losses since a three-game skid Oct. 13-18. Rick Nash scored his sixth goal in four games against Boston, but New York surrendered two goals in the final four minutes.
"For most of the year the bounces have been going our way, but it's always not going to be perfect and you're not going to win them all," defenseman Dan Girardi told the team's official website. "But we had the lead there and needed to close it out."
The Rangers were also concerned with the loss of Derek Stepan, who suffered broken ribs on a hard hit by Matt Beleskey in the second period. Stepan played another shift, but didn't return for the third and is out indefinitely. He has six goals and six assists.
"In our opinion, it was a late hit," coach Alain Vigneault said. "More than a second, and he was a couple of feet away from the boards. So we'll have to wait and see."
Philadelphia won 3-2 in a shootout at home against New York on Oct. 24, but has since gone an East-worst 4-8-4, including Friday's 3-2 overtime win against Nashville.
The Flyers (8-10-5) won behind Shayne Gostisbehere's power-play goal in the extra period after giving up the tying tally with 20 seconds left in regulation. Gostisbehere, playing his ninth career game, scored in overtime for the second time in three contests.
"It's a fun ride right now, and I don't have any plans of getting off it," he said. "I've never scored that many OT winners in my life, so it's a surreal moment."
They still rank last in the NHL with 1.8 goals per game, and a number of top players are going through rough droughts. Second-leading goal-scorer Brayden Schenn has two goals in his last four games, and just one in his last 15 against the Rangers. Wayne Simmonds led the team last season with 28 goals but has just three through 23 games.
Backup Antti Raanta will get the nod for New York after Henrik Lundqvist started Friday. Raanta is undefeated in four starts with a 1.25 goals-against average and one shutout. He's also 2-1 in three starts against Philadelphia after posting a 32-save shutout in his most recent matchup Oct. 21, 2014.
Michael Neuvirth started Friday, so Steve Mason figures to be between the pipes for the Flyers. Mason has lost eight of his last nine starts but is 6-3-1 with a 2.40 GAA in 11 career starts against the Rangers.
Philadelphia is one shy of its first three-game win streak in the series since taking five in a row April 11, 2010-Feb. 20, 2011.
- PHILADELPHIA: 3
NEW YORK: 0
Final
Feb 26 4:49 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 3
NEW YORK: 0
Final
Nov 28 3:57 PM - End of 3rd Period.
Nov 28 3:57 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 3
NEW YORK: 0
End of Regulation
Nov 28 3:57 PM - Goal scored by Sean Couturier assisted by Wayne Simmonds and Scott Laughton
Flyers 2, Rangers 0 3rd - 16:54Nov 28 3:25 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 1
NEW YORK: 0
End of 2nd
Nov 28 3:03 PM - End of 2nd Period.
Nov 28 3:03 PM - Goal scored by Wayne Simmonds assisted by Matt Read and Michael Del Zotto
Flyers 1, Rangers 0 2nd - 7:36Nov 28 2:49 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 0
NEW YORK: 0
End of 1st
Nov 28 2:12 PM - End of 1st Period.
Nov 28 2:12 PM - Sean Couturier won faceoff against Oscar Lindberg in neutral zone
Nov 28 1:38 PM - PHILADELPHIA: 0
NEW YORK: 0
1st Period - 19:50
Nov 28 1:38 PM
Related News
- Flyers will reportedly have new uniforms next season Mar 30
- Preview: Those pesky Sens Mar 30
- Goodbye (link to the new site in the story!) Mar 30
- Shesterkin Returning to Form at Right Time Mar 30
- BSH 2.0 Update - The end is nigh Mar 30
- Bantering Points: 3/30/23 Mar 30
- Thursday Morning Fly By: On the road again Mar 30
- Rangers Sign Chytil to Four-Year Extension Mar 29
- Adam Sýkora Reassigned to Hartford Wolf Pack Mar 29
- Bantering Points: 3/29/23 Mar 29
- Wednesday Morning Fly By: Things are getting Frosty Mar 29
- Flyers 3, Canadiens 2: Frost scores twice as winning streak continues Mar 28