Rangers Begin Four-Game Homestand Starting vs Philadelphia

The Blueshirts continue to look to put the pedal to the medal as they hope to extend their winning streak to three-in-a-row (7:00 P.M. ET, MSG).

Rangers	NHL Rankings	Flyers
5-3-2	Record	5-2-1
8^th	NHL Standing Rank	13^th
21^st	GF/PG	24^th
12^th	GA/PG	5^th
12^th	PP%	17^th
18^th	PK%	12^th

Previous Game

The Rangers are coming off a successful two-game road trip with four points after victories over the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes. Many considered the Coyotes an easy game for the Blueshirts but it was more then fans had bargained for. Despite creating many chances and dominating most of the game, the Rangers narrowly defeated Arizona by the score of 3-2. The Rangers got goals from Alexis Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin on his 31^st birthday, and Mika Zibanejad. Connor Ingram helped kept the Rangers at bay by making 36 saves for the Coyotes. Igor Shesterkin made 18 saves including a couple of game-saving saves. Shesterkin started both games in as many days. Many figured Jaroslav Halak would make the start on the second half of the back-to-back.

“He looked great,” said head coach Gerard Gallant. “I might do it again someday. You never know.”

Rangers vs Flyers

Now the Blueshirts will look to build momentum as they take on a Flyers side that has showed they are not to be taken lightly. The big concern for the Rangers continues to be not getting enough secondary scoring. The bottom-six for the Rangers has just five goals in ten games – two from Barclay Goodrow, two from Filip Chytil, and one from Julien Gauthier. The Rangers also only have three goals from defensemen – two from Adam Fox and one from Zac Jones. They are simply not getting enough goals from outside the main scoring threats. Chytil being injured along with Vitaly Kravtsov hasn’t helped the Rangers in getting depth goal scoring.

Expect Shesterkin to get the start again. In a key divisional game, the Rangers will need their number one goaltender to be on his game. Shesterkin has recorded a record of 5-0-2 on the season and has recorded at least a point in every game he has started this season.

Flyers netminder Carter Hart has had a similar star to the season as Shesterkin. Hart has currently had a very strong start in what he hopes is a bounce back season. The 24-year-old holds a record of 5-0-1 and has a save percentage of a .938. However, the Flyers are playing a back-to-back with a game on Wednesday night in Toronto. While it might make sense to play Hart against a divisional opponent, the Flyers could play backup netminder Felix Sandstrom and save Hart for a high-powered Leafs offense.

The Flyers have started off the season surprisingly well under new head coach John Tortorella. Rangers fans are very familiar with the coaching style of Tortorella and know what to expect out of their former bench boss. Expect the Flyers to block many shots, throw the body, and be tough to play against.

Two of Philadelphia’s top three point scorers are ex-Rangers and players the fans are very familiar with. Kevin Hayes leads the Flyers in points with ten while Tony DeAngelo has seven. Both will see a lot of ice time and be on the Flyers top power-play unit. The Blueshirts became familiar with Justin Braun as he was acquired from Philadelphia in a trade for a postseason run last offseason. Braun resigned with Philadelphia this offseason.