Flyers-Rangers: Game 35 Preview

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	New York Rangers	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	34	12	30	42	Mika Zibanejad	34	11	19	30
Jake Voracek	34	9	18	27	Kevin Hayes	34	10	19	29
Sean Couturier	32	14	12	26	Chris Kreider	34	16	8	24
Travis Konecny	34	9	12	21	Jimmy Vesey	34	9	10	19
Wayne Simmonds	34	10	5	15	Neal Pionk	32	5	14	19

 

Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux	13 Kevin Hayes
Last 5 Games: 3 G, 2 A, 5 P, -3	Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, -2

 

Sean Couturier was absent from the final five minutes of Thursday's game after a hit into the boards that went unpenalized. Couturier is going to play despite the hit and a visit to the quiet room. Couturier has been working well with new linemate Jake Voracek in the last two games, so watch that duo as they look to build more success after connecting for a goal in the last game. 

 

Seth Jones scored twice against the Flyers in the last meeting in Philadelphia, including getting the game-winner in overtime. Jones has been one of the top defensemen in the league in terms of offensive numbers and with Columbus on the power play, they will look to set him up for chances.

 

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	30 Henrik Lundqvist
2 GP, 0-2-0, 6.14 GAA, .719 SV%	25 GP, 10-9-5, 2.87 GAA, .914 SV%

Michal Neuvirth is expected to get the start on the back end of a back-to-back against the Rangers. Neuvirth really struggled in his first two appearances this season, giving up nine goals in 88 minutes.

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start for the Rangers after getting Saturday off. Lundqvist has been playing better lately, making 30 saves or more in each of his last three games, but doesn't have a win since Dec. 8.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Elliott, Anthony Stolarz, Corban Knight

Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Jordan Weal, Christian Folin

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk	28 Claude Giroux	11 Travis Konecny
17 Wayne Simmonds	14 Sean Couturier	93 Jake Voracek
21 Scott Laughton	19 Nolan Patrick	12 Michael Raffl
23 Oskar Lindblom	44 Phil Varone	22 Dale Weise
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov	6 Travis Sanheim
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	8 Robert Hagg
47 Andrew MacDonald	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

Lineup Notes

No changes are expected to the lineup other than in goal. 

Rangers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Cody McLeod, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jesper Fast

Scratches: Fredrik Claesson 

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
72 Filip Chytil	93 Mika Zibanejad	36 Mats Zuccarello
20 Chris Kreider	13 Kevin Hayes	89 Pavel Buchnevich
26 Jimmy Vesey	21 Brett Howden	90 Vladislav Namestnikov
24 Boo Nieves	50 Lias Andersson	16 Ryan Strome
Defense
18 Marc Staal	44 Neal Pionk
42 Brendan Smith	77 Anthony DeAngelo
76 Brady Skjei	54 Adam McQuaid
Goalie
30 Henrik Lundqvist

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (30th, 29th on road), Rangers (17th, 19th at home)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 28th on road), Rangers (25th, 7th at home) 
• Recent History vs. Rangers
  • Jan. 16, 2018 – Rangers 5, Flyers 1 (at NYR)
  • Feb. 18, 2018 – Flyers 7, Rangers 4 (at NYR)
  • March 22, 2018 – Flyers 4, Rangers 3 (at PHI)
  • April 7, 2018 – Flyers 5, Rangers 0 (at PHI)
  • Nov. 23, 2018 – Flyers 4, Rangers 0 (at PHI)
• Flyers Leaders vs. Rangers
  • Claude Giroux – 50 GP, 10 G, 38 A, 48 P
  • Travis Konecny – 9 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 P
  • Jake Voracek – 36 GP, 13 G, 14 A, 27 P
  • Wayne Simmonds – 37 GP, 12 G, 11 A, 23 P
  • Michal Neuvirth – 9 GP, 1-5-0, 4.59 GAA, .856 SV%
• Milestone Watch
  • Wayne Simmonds needs three goals to reach 200 as a Flyer.
  • James van Riemsdyk needs two assists to reach 200 in his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic