RANGERS VS FLYERS GAME DAY PREVIEW 12/23

RANGERS RETURN HOME TO HOST FLYERS BEFORE HOLIDAY BREAK 

New York Rangers (15-14-5) vs Philadelphia Flyers (14-16-4)

Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY

Tonight 7:00 PM TV: MSG, NHLN-US

The Rangers and Flyers both come into tonight's contest having lost games last night. The Rangers dropped a close one in Toronto 5-3 while Philadelphia had a close one of their own losing to Columbus 4-3.

Last night's Rangers loss was just the team's second regulation defeat in their last seven games, but are just 1-6 over their last seven road games, a stretch that included a 4-0 loss in Philadelphia the day after Thanksgiving.

In the Rangers last home game they defeated the Anaheim Ducks with 3 unanswered third period goals for the 3-1 win. New York is 9-1-3 at home since October 23.

This is the second of four meetings between New York and Philadelphia this season. The Flyers took the opening game 4-0 with Sean Couturier leading with 2 goals and an assist in the Rangers loss.

Henrik Lundqvist who will start today for the Rangers stopped 42 of a 45 shot barrage in their previous game in Philly.

While the Rangers continue their "rebuild" process Philadelphia has been struggling as well and relieved their head coach Dave Hakstol since their last meeting in November. Scott Gordon took over the reigns for Phily just over a week ago and has gone 2-1-0 in his first three games.

RANGERS PROBABLE LINEUP
Forwards:
Chytil-Zibanejad-Zuccarello
Kreider-Hayes-Buchnevich
Vesey-Howden-Namestnikov
Nieves-Andersson-Strome

Defense:
Staal-Pionk
Skjei-DeAngelo
Smith-McQuaid

Goal:
Henrik Lundqvist

Backup:
Ondrej Pavelec

RANGERS TEAM LEADERS

POINTS: Mika Zibanejad 30

GOALS; Chris Kreider 16

ASSISTS: Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes 19

FLYERS TEAM LEADERS

POINTS: Claude Giroux 42

GOALS: Sean Couturier 14

ASSISTS: Claude Giroux 30


RANGERS ALL-TIME RECORD vs PHILADELPHIA
Overall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131-118-37-8 (307 pts)
Home Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69-50-23-4 (165 pts)
Road Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62-68-14-4 (142 pts)
Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 868
Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 868
Shutouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, last – 11/28/2014 (3-0; Talbot)
Last Ranger Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/16/2018 (5-1)
Last Ranger Win at Philadelphia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/4/2017 (5-2)
Last Flyer Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2/18/2018 (7-4)
Last Flyer Win at Philadelphia. . . . . . . . . . . . 11/23/2018 (4-0)

HEAD TO HEAD 2017-2018 (Flyers won series 3-1)
2018-04-07 NYR @ PHI 0-5 L
2018-03-22 NYR @ PHI 3-4 L
2018-02-18 NYR PHI 4-7 L
2018-01-16 NYR PHI 5-1 W

HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS 2018-2019
2018-11-23 NYR @ PHI 0-4 L