Press ESC to close

HERE WE GO AGAIN

New York RangersNY RANGERS at PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Saturday, Feb. 11, 1:00 p.m.
Wells Fargo Center — Philadelphia, PA
Rangers: 34-13-5 (73 pts)
Flyers: 31-16-7 (69 pts)

* All information through NHL games on Feb. 9

TODAY’S GAME

The Rangers will face-off against the Philadelphia Flyers today at Wells Fargo Center (1:00 p.m.; TV: MSG Network; Radio: 1050 ESPN Radio), to begin a back-to-back weekend set. The Blueshirts currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, and rank second in the league overall, with a record of 34-13-5 (73 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, in overtime on Thursday at Madison Square Garden for their fifth win in seven games, and are now 17-5-1 in their last 23 contests. New York has posted a record of 31-10-3 since Oct. 29, after beginning the season with a 3-3-2 mark. The Flyers enter the contest with a 31-16-7 (69 pts) record to rank fourth in the Eastern Conference, and have lost three of their last four games. Following today’s contest, the Rangers will face-off against the Washington Capitals tomorrow, Feb. 12, at Madison Square Garden (12:30 p.m.), to close out their back-to-back set.

RANGERS vs. FLYERS:

  • All-Time: 114-107-37-7 overall (60-47-23-4 at home; 54-60-14-3 on the road)
  • 2011-12: Tonight is the fifth of six meetings this season, and the second of three at Wells Fargo Center. New York is 4-0-0 (3-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road) following a 5-2 win on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. New York has out-scored Philadephia, 14-6, in the series, including an 8-3 advantage in the third period. 17 different Rangers have tallied a point against the Flyers this season, including 10 different goal-scorers. Michael Del Zotto leads the team with four points (one goal, three assists) in four games, while Henrik Lundqvist is 4-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA, .949 Sv% and one shutout in the series.
  • Last Season: New York was 2-4-0 overall (1-2-0 at home; 1-2-0 on the road). The Rangers power play was 4-19 (21.1%) in the season series. Ryan Callahan (four goals, one assist) and Derek Stepan (three goals, two assists) tied for the team-high with five points, while Callahan’s four goals led the team. Henrik Lundqvist was 2-3-0 with a 2.57 GAA, .908 Sv% and one shutout in five games.
  • The Rangers enter the contest with a six-game winning streak against the Flyers, dating back to a 7-0 win at MSG on Mar. 6, 2011. The Blueshirts have out-scored the Flyers, 24-8, during the streak.
  • New York ranks third with a 17-7-3 (37 pts) record on the road; Philadelphia ranks 23rd with a 13-8-5 (31 pts) mark at home
  • The Rangers are 10-3-1 vs. the Atlantic Division; the Flyers are 6-6-2 vs. the Atlantic Division
  • New York lists three former Flyers on their roster: Martin Biron (2006-07 – 2008-09); Steve Eminger (2008-09); Ruslan Fedotenko (2000-01 – 2001-02)
  • Philadelphia lists four former Rangers on their roster: Blair Betts (2005-06 – 2008-09); Jaromir Jagr (2003-04 – 2007-08); Ian Laperriere (1995-96); Jody Shelley (2009-10)

INDIVIDUAL CAREER LEADERS vs. FLYERS:

  • Henrik Lundqvist — 35 GP, 20-10-3, 2.60 GAA, 4 SO
  • Martin Biron — 18 GP, 9-7-2-0, 2.18 GAA
  • Brad Richards — 35 GP, 9-24-33
  • Ruslan Fedotenko — 41 GP, 16-11-27
  • Derek Stepan — 10 GP, 4-4-8
  • Dan Girardi — 34 GP, 0-20-20

SPECIAL TEAMS:

The Blueshirts penalty kill has held opponents scoreless in 14 of the last 19 games (47-52, 90.4% over the span), and is 72-81 (88.9%) with five shorthanded goals in the last 28 contests. The Rangers are tied for fourth in the NHL with six shorthanded goals. The Blueshirts have posted a record of 17-1-2 in games when tallying a power play goal, and are 24-6-2 when not allowing a power play goal.

  • Power Play: The Rangers tallied one goal in three power play attempts (4:11) on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay. New York ranks 27th overall (24-179, 13.4%) and 28th on the road (8-82, 9.8%). The Rangers are 2-12 (8:51) in five-on-three situations (last – 12/23 vs. PHI), and 1-6 (8:52) when four-on-three (last – 2/1 at BUF). Shorthanded goals allowed (3): 12/5 vs. TOR (Steckel); 12/8 vs. TBL (Moore); 12/17 at PHX (Korpikoski).
  • Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts surrendered one goal to the Lightning in two power play attempts (2:46) on Thursday at MSG. New York ranks fifth overall (150-173, 86.7%) and fourth on the road (85-97, 87.6%). The Rangers are 6-7 (4:07) in three-on-five situations (last – 2/1 at BUF), and 1-2 (1:39) when three-on-four (last – 2/1 at BUF). Shorthanded goals for (6): 10/20 at CGY (Prust); 12/8 vs. TBL (Anisimov); 12/10 at BUF (Hagelin); 12/10 at BUF (Callahan); 12/20 at NJD (Hagelin); 1/6 at PIT (Dubinsky).
  • Four-on-Four: New York tallied two goals and surrendered one goal in two four-on-four situations (4:37) on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay. The Rangers are plus-five in 54 four-on-four situations (101:06), and even in one three-on-three situation (0:01). Four-on-four goals for (6): 10/18 at VAN (Gaborik); 10/20 at CGY (McDonagh); 10/27 vs. TOR (Girardi); 1/2 vs. FLA (Gaborik); 2/9 vs. TBL (Stepan); 2/9 vs. TBL (Richards). Four-on-four goals allowed (1): 2/9 vs. TBL (Lecavalier).

BACK-TO-BACKS

The Rangers will begin their ninth of 14 scheduled back-to-back sets this season today at Philadelphia. New York has posted a record of 6-0-2 (3-0-0 at home, 3-0-2 on the road) in the first game of the set, and are 6-1-1 (4-0-0 at home, 2-1-1 on the road) in the second game. Since 2009-10, New York is 27-9-3 in the second game of back-to-backs, with a 13-3-1 mark at MSG and 14-6-2 on the road over the span. Henrik Lundqvist has started on consecutive days 56 times in his career, posting a record of 35-14-7 with a 1.82 GAA, .935 Sv% and six shutouts in the second game. The Rangers’ will conclude the set tomorrow vs. Washington.

HOW SWEEP IT IS

New York completed a home sweep of their season series against Philadelphia with a 5-2 win on Sunday at MSG. The Rangers out-scored the Flyers, 11-4, en route to their 3-0-0 mark at home. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers swept their home series against the Flyers was during the 1991-92 season, when the Blueshirts posted a 4-0-0 mark against Philadelphia at Madison Square Garden.

FAMILIAR FOE

The Rangers are 10-3-1 against Atlantic Division opponents this season, including a nine-game winning streak from Nov. 15 – Jan. 6. New York has out-scored their opponent, 42-28, in divisional play.

PLACE IN HISTORY

The Rangers’ .702 win% through 52 games is the team’s best start in 39 years, when the 1972-73 Blueshirts began the season with a 35-13-4 record (.712 win%), and is tied as the second best start in franchise history. *courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau

MEASURING UP

The Rangers rank among the NHL leaders in several statistical categories…

  • T-2nd in points (73)
  • 1st in win% (.702)
  • T-2nd in wins (34)
  • 1st in regulation/overtime wins (31)
  • 1st in fewest regulation losses (13)
  • 1st in fewest goals against (102)
  • 2nd in GAA (1.96)
  • 1st in hits (1,545)
  • 6th in blocked shots (866)
  • T-3rd in +/- rating (plus-39)
  • 4th in goal differential (plus-39)

QUICK HITS:

  • This is the latest the Rangers have been in first place of the Eastern Conference standings since the 1995-96 season, when New York held the top position through games played on Mar. 15, 1996 (NYR game #68). *courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau
  • New York has registered at least one point in 34 of their last 44 games (31-10-3), dating back to Oct. 29, after beginning the season with a 3-3-2 mark
  • New York is 10-1-2 when leading after the first period and 20-0-2 when leading after the second
  • The Rangers are tied for third in the league with a .286 win% when trailing after two periods (4-9-1), and their four third period comeback victories are tied for eighth in the NHL; New York has trailed entering the third period in 14 games this season, which is the fewest in the league
  • New York leads the NHL with a .783 win% when out-shooting their opponent (18-5-0)
  • The Rangers lead the league when scoring first, posting a 24-1-2 mark (.889 win%) in those contests; Their 24 wins rank third in the NHL

THE HOT LIST:

  • Henrik Lundqvist is 4-1-0 with a 0.97 GAA, .963 Sv% and two shutouts in his last five games
  • Lundqvist has allowed one goal or less in 11 of his last 19 games, and has held opponents to two or fewer goals in 27 games this season
  • Martin Biron has held opponents to two or fewer goals in eight of his 13 starts this season
  • Marian Gaborik has tallied 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 10 games
  • Derek Stepan has tallied four points (one goal, three assists) in the last three games
  • Michael Del Zotto has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in the last six games
  • Brian Boyle has tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the last six games
  • Artem Anisimov has tallied four points (one goal, three assists) in the last three games
  • Carl Hagelin has tallied nine points (one goal, eight assists) in the last 13 games
  • Dan Girardi has tallied two assists in the last three games

MILESTONES APPROACHING:

  • Artem Anisimov: 2 points from 100 NHL career
  • Steve Eminger: 5 points from 100 NHL career

INJURIES:

  • Michael Sauer (concussion, 12/5) — 28

Total Man-Games Lost: 164

Mitch Beck

Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He has also worked in hockey as a coach and administrator. He also works for USA Hockey as a Coach Developer. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack since 2005.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *