Flyers-Rangers preview: Two teams going in different directions
The Flyers, winners of four straight, can slip past the slumping Rangers with a victory Tuesday in New York.
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Flyers (20-15-8) at Rangers (22-17-5)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
WHERE: Madison Square Garden.
BROADCAST & STREAMING: NBCSP, NBCSports.com/live, 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: @BroadStBull and @samdonnellon on Twitter.
KEY PLAYERS: The Rangers, losers of three straight, are led by Michael Grabner (19 goals) and Mika Zibanejad (14). The Blueshirts have been outscored, 14-5, in their last three games.
Henrik Lundqvist, who is 19-11-4 with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, is having another stellar season and was named to the all-star team for the fourth time. With his next win, Lundqvist will become the first goalie in NHL history to register at least 20 victories in each of his first 13 seasons.
In his career against the Flyers, Lundqvist is is 34-14-4 with a 2.40 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (minus-13) has been a disappointment after signing a four-year, $26.6 million deal.
The Flyers have won four straight and can slip past the Rangers with a victory.
Brian Elliott (17-10-7, 2.75, .909) is expected to make his 18th start in the last 19 games for the Flyers.
All-star left winger Claude Giroux (54 points), Jake Voracek (53 points), and Sean Couturier (career-high 25 goals) are among the NHL leaders.
Wayne Simmonds is heating up and is second on the Flyers with 15 goals.
THINGS TO KNOW: Ryan McDonagh (back spasms) and Kevin Hayes (leg) missed the Rangers' last game with injuries. They will be re-evaluated Tuesday……Chris Kreider will miss his eighth game because he is recovering from surgery of a blood clot in his right arm…..The Flyers' power play is 7 for its last 14…..The game matches the Rangers' second-ranked penalty kill against the Flyers' sixth-ranked power play…..The Flyers are 3-1-4 against Metropolitan Division teams….The Flyers' Michael Raffl and New York's Grabner are natives of Villach, Austria. Raffl was Grabner's best man at his wedding…. Lundqvist is 8-1-1 in his last 10 appearances against the Flyers….The Rangers are 13-4-1 in their last 18 home games
HEAD TO HEAD:
The Flyers lead the overall series, 122-121-37-9. This is the first of four meetings between the teams.
COMING FLYERS GAMES:
Thursday: 7 p.m. vs. Toronto. (Eric Lindros' No. 88 jersey will be retired.)
Saturday: 1 p.m. vs. New Jersey.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m. at Washington.