Flyers-Rangers: Game 82 Preview

3-22-2018_FlyersvsRangers_2nd_credKateFrese-2

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It all comes down to this. The Flyers face the New York Rangers in the final game of the regular season needing just one point to clinch a playoff spot.

There are a lot of playoff implications to Saturday's games on the NHL slate, but the Flyers will take center stage with the first game of the day, knowing the task at hand. For the third straight game, they will have to rise to the occasion against a team that will not be reaching the postseason.

Game time is set for 3 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P New York Rangers GP G A P
Claude Giroux 81 31 68 99 Mats Zuccarello 79 16 37 53
Jake Voracek 81 20 64 84 Mika Zibanejad 71 27 20 47
Sean Couturier 81 31 43 74 Kevin Hayes 75 25 19 44
Shayne Gostisbehere 77 13 51 64 Pavel Buchnevich 73 14 29 43
Travis Konecny 80 24 23 47 Chris Kreider 57 16 21 37
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 13 Kevin Hayes
Last 5 Games: 5 G, 3 A, 8 P, +6 Last 5 Games: 4 G, 1 A, 5 P, E
 
Claude Giroux is one point shy of 100 for the season and the Flyers are one point from a playoff spot. Who else would be the player to watch? The captain has been at the center of big goals for the Flyers for the last two to three weeks and will need to be again one more time in the regular season. 
 
The Rangers were sellers at the deadline, so they don't boast a lot of star power right now. That said, Kevin Hayes has been on a little hot streak with four goals in his last five games. Hayes also has four goals and six points in 14 career games against the Flyers.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 30 Henrik Lundqvist
22-11-7, 2.73 GAA, .908 SV% 26-25-7, 2.95 GAA, .915 SV%

The Flyers go back to Brian Elliott in goal for Saturday's regular season finale. Elliott had a shaky start on Thursday, making 19 saves and allowed three goals, but got the win again for his 22nd of the season. Dave Hakstol said after the game that Elliott was the guy and the team's No. 1 netminder, so it is no surprise to see him get another start, even with so much on the line.

The Rangers turn to veteran Henrik Lundqvist. It's been a trying year for Lundqvist, who has either been on his game or a disaster between the pipes. Lundqvist has tremendous career numbers against the Flyers — a 35-15-4 record and a 2.46 GAA in 56 games — but the Orange and Black were also able to score seven goals on King Henrik on Feb. 18.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Dale Weise, Jordan Weal, Taylor Leier, Robert Hagg, Johnny Oduya

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 12 Michael Raffl
54 Oskar Lindblom 19 Nolan Patrick 93 Jake Voracek
11 Travis Konecny 51 Valtteri Filppula 17 Wayne Simmonds
21 Scott Laughton 15 Jori Lehtera 24 Matt Read
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
6 Travis Sanheim 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers lineup will remain the same as Thursday's game for the final game of the regular season on Saturday.

Rangers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Anthony DeAngelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, Steve Kampfer, Cody McLeod

Scratches: David Desharnais, Jesper Fast, Peter Holland, Paul Carey

Left Wing Center Right Wing
20 Chris Kreider 93 Mika Zibanejad 72 Filip Chytil
26 Jimmy Vesey 50 Lias Andersson 36 Mats Zuccarello
23 Ryan Spooner 13 Kevin Hayes 38 Steven Fogarty
39 Matt Beleskey 50 Lias Andersson 89 Pavel Buchnevich
Defense    
18 Marc Staal 44 Nick Pionk  
76 Brady Skjei 25 Ryan Sproul  
58 John Gilmour 46 Rob O'Gara  
Goalie    
30 Henrik Lundqvist    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-17th, 24th at home), Rangers (12th, T-12th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 29th at home), Rangers (T-8th, 11th on road) 
  • 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)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Rangers
    • Claude Giroux – 48 GP, 7 G, 35 A, 42 P
    • Jake Voracek – 34 GP, 13 G, 13 A, 26 P
    • Travis Konecny – 7 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 P
    • Brian Elliott – 11 GP, 2-8-1, 3.27 GAA
  • Milestone Watch
    • Claude Giroux needs one assists to pass Bill Barber for third all-time in Flyers history.
    • Jake Voracek needs three assists to reach 400 in the NHL.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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