Flyers-Rangers: Game 59 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers have been continuing to climb into the playoff picture by consistently getting points in the standings. While they didn't manage to get two points in regulation on Friday night in Columbus, the 2-1 overtime win was the Flyers seventh straight game with points, keeping them in third in the Metropolitan Division.

That brings the Flyers into Sunday afternoon's matchup, their second this season against the New York Rangers. The Rangers have been struggling mightily of late, rapidly falling farther in the playoff picture, and are coming off a 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.

Game time is set for 12 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P New York Rangers GP G A P
Claude Giroux 58 19 47 66 Mats Zuccarello 58 9 32 41
Jake Voracek 58 11 54 65 J.T. Miller 59 12 26 38
Sean Couturier 58 29 29 58 Pavel Buchnevich 51 13 20 33
Shayne Gostisbehere 54 10 35 45 Michael Grabner 58 25 6 31
Wayne Simmonds 58 20 16 36 Mika Zibanejad 50 17 14 31
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier 40 Michael Grabner
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 5 A, 7 P, +3 Last 5 Games: 4 G, 1 A, 5 P, +2
 
For the Flyers player to watch, we look to Friday's hero. Sean Couturier continues to add to his career year, and his next goal will be his 30th of the season. 
 
The Rangers have not been getting a lot of scoring of late, but when they do, it seems that Michael Grabner is in the middle of it. Grabner has four goals in the last five games, including two of the three goals in Saturday's loss. 
 
Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth 30 Henrik Lundqvist
8-7-3, 2.48 GAA, .919 SV% 23-20-4, 2.80 GAA, .917 SV%

Since picking up the win in relief for Brian Elliott in a shootout against Arizona on Feb. 10, Michal Neuvirth has won two of his three starts, with the other being a shootout loss. Neuvirth did allow four goals in the game to the Devils on Tuesday before the shootout, but has otherwise been very solid in net, allowing two goals in the two wins and making 73 saves on 75 shots.

This is not the Henrik Lundqvist of the past. Since Jan. 23, Lundqvist has been pulled early four times and has a 2-7-0 record. Lundqvist has also allowed three goals or more in all but three games in that time, and one of those games was a win in relief. Lundqvist does have tremendous career numbers against the Flyers, but this is a very vulnerable team at the moment with a goaltender that is struggling mightily.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Elliott

Scratches: Taylor Leier, Mark Alt

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
93 Jake Voracek 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
40 Jordan Weal 21 Scott Laughton 12 Michael Raffl
15 Jori Lehtera 51 Valtteri Filppula 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
30 Michal Neuvirth    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers will use the same lines as in Friday's win in Columbus.

Rangers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal, Steve Kampfer, Ondrej Pavelec

Scratches: Cody McLeod

Left Wing Center Right Wing
61 Rick Nash 93 Mika Zibanejad 36 Mats Zuccarello
40 Michael Grabner 10 J.T. Miller 89 Pavel Buchnevich
26 Jimmy Vesey 51 David Desharnais 17 Jesper Fast
13 Kevin Hayes 12 Peter Holland 28 Paul Carey
Defense    
76 Brady Skjei 44 Neal Pionk  
55 Nick Holden 77 Tony DeAngelo  
58 John Gilmour 25 Ryan Sproul  
Goalie    
30 Henrik Lundqvist    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-7th, 2nd on road), Rangers (14th, T-15th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 24th on road), Rangers (8th, 6th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Rangers
    • Jan. 16, 2018 – Rangers 5, Flyers 1 (at NYR)
  • Milestone Watch
    • Claude Giroux needs one goal to reach 200 for his career. Giroux also needs three points to pass John LeClair for 7th all-time in Flyers history.
    • Sean Couturier needs one goal to reach 100 for his career.
    • Shayne Gostisbehere needs four assists to reach 100 in his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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