East QF Game 1 Preview: Flyers, Rangers open series at MSG

Claude Giroux and the Flyers open the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff series with the New York Rangers on Thursday night. (Photo by Amy Irvin/38Photography)

After three days of anticipation, the run to the Stanley Cup begins tonight. The Flyers first playoff game in two years comes on the road in Madison Square Garden. 

The New York Rangers are the opponent, and while Game 1 is not a must-win game in terms of ending a season, the first game is the chance to make a big first impression. The Flyers would like to make a good first impression with their first win at MSG in three years. The opening face-off of the playoff opener is set for 7 p.m.

Several Flyers were on a roll to close out the season. The top line was clicking again with Jake Voracek and Claude Giroux each netting goals against the Penguins on Saturday. Giroux is on a four-game point streak with three goals in that time. Voracek is also on a three-game point streak.

Giroux and Voracek also finished the regular season as the top two point performers for the Flyers. Giroux led the way with 86 points. Voracek was second with 62 points.

It was Wayne Simmonds who led the team in goals with 29.

In net, the Flyers are forced to turn to Ray Emery. In for the injured Steve Mason, Emery is making his second start of the season in Madison Square Garden. He allowed four goals in a 4-1 loss on Jan. 12. Emery posted a 9-12-2 record in the regular season with a 2.96 GAA and .903 save percentage.

Game 1 also marks the first playoff game for Jason Akeson and Luke Schenn. Akeson's only game with the Flyers for the regular season was the final game on Sunday against the Hurricanes. Schenn is in his second season with the Flyers.

The Rangers drastically changed the makeup of the roster halfway through the season, but it never altered their path to the playoffs.

Between Mats Zuccarello, Brad Richards and Derek Stepan, the Rangers had a regular scoring core that kept them in the playoff picture for the entire season. 

The trade deadline acquisition of Martin St. Louis also helped add some offense, even with St. Louis struggling to find the net early in his Rangers career.

Defensively, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh are mainstays on the New York blue line.

In goal, there aren't many better than the Rangers regular netminder. Henrik Lundqvist proves to be the first test for the Flyers in the playoff run and a sizable one at that.

Lundqvist was 33-24-5 in the regular season with a 2.36 GAA and .920 save percentage. In his career against the Flyers, Lundqvist is 27-13-3 with a 2.49 GAA and four shutouts.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (8^th, 1^st on road), Rangers (15^th, T-23^rd at home)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (7^th, T-9^th on road), Rangers (3^rd, 6^th at home)
• The Flyers and Rangers split the regular-season series between the two teams. The Flyers lost both games at Madison Square Garden.
• Mark Streit closed the regular season on a six-game point streak. He has 10 points, including nine assists, in that time. 

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

Flyers Projected Lineup

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

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

Goalie: Ray Emery

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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