Game 72 Preview: Flyers, Rangers meet in potential playoff preview

Claude Giroux and Marc Staal battle for the puck. The Flyers and Rangers meet in New York on Wednesday night. (Photo by Amy Irvin/38Photography)

If the playoffs started today, this would be the scenario for the Flyers: a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.

The Flyers are coming off their first loss of this 12-game stretch, making tonight's game all the more important. The Rangers were able to move past the Flyers in the standings with a dramatic win against the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday, giving the Flyers a friendly reminder of how quickly a team can pass them in the standings.

The opening face-off of this potential playoff matchup is at 8 p.m. tonight.

The Rangers made several moves near the trade deadline, none bigger than sending captain Ryan Callahan to Tampa Bay for Martin St. Louis. St. Louis has 64 points on the season and 29 goals. In his 11 games since the trade, St. Louis has no goals and three assists.

It is an interesting cast of characters that follow St. Louis on the points list. Derek Stepan is second on the team with 50 points, including 15 goals. Mats Zuccarello also has 15 goals and 50 points. Brad Richards follows with 47 points, including 17 goals.

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh leads all defensemen with 42 points, including 13 goals. Marc Staal and new captain Dan Girardi also join the Rangers blue line group.

Henrik Lundqvist will get the start in goal. Lundqvist is 29-22-4 with a 2.43 GAA and .918 save percentage. Lundqvist is also 26-13-3 against the Flyers with a 2.53 GAA and .915 save percentage.

The Flyers are looking to rebound from a tough 3-2 loss to snap a five-game losing streak on Monday. 

In Monday's loss, Claude Giroux's six-game point streak was snapped. Giroux had 10 points, including nine assists, in that time.

Jake Voracek finally snapped a long goalless drought in Monday's loss. Additionally, Wayne Simmonds, Scott Hartnell and the rest of the Flyers offense are out for more success.

A few defensive lapses, most notably by Kimmo Timonen, helped the Kings score the game-winning goal on Monday. 

Steve Mason gets the start for the Flyers on Wednesday. Mason is 30-16-6 with a 2.53 GAA and .916 save percentage. Mason is 4-0-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .932 save percentage in six games against the Rangers.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (10^th, 1^st on road), Rangers (14^th, 23^rd at home)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (6^th, 3^rd on road), Rangers (7^th, T-9^th at home)
• The Flyers have faced the Rangers three times this season, making Wednesday's game the final regular-season meeting of the season for the two teams. The Flyers won on Oct. 24, 2-1, and on March 1, 4-2. The Rangers won on Jan. 12, 4-1. 
• Milestone Watch: Vincent Lecavalier needs two goals for 400 in his career. Jake Voracek needs one goal to reach 100 in his career. Luke Schenn needs three points for 100 in his career.

Flyers scratches: Erik Gustafsson, Hal Gill, Jay Rosehill, Steve Downie 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Line 1: Scott Hartnell-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Vincent Lecavalier-Brayden Schenn-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Tye McGinn
Line 4: Zac Rinaldo-Michael Raffl-Adam Hall

D-Pair 1: Kimmo Timonen-Braydon Coburn
D-Pair 2: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 3: Andrew MacDonald-Luke Schenn

Goalie: Steve Mason

Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.