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Five things to know about the Flyers going into today's Rangers game

Five things to know about the Flyers (9-9-3) as they host the Metropolitan-leading New York Rangers (14-6-1) at 1 p.m. Friday:

1. Since the NHL went to a 30-team format in 2000, 78 percent of the teams in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving have earned a playoff berth at the end of the season. The Flyers are two points out of a playoff spot. Reason for optimism: The Flyers were not in a playoff spot last year on Thanksgiving and beat the odds.

2. This is a matchup of two of the NHL's highest-scoring teams. The Rangers, coming off a 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh, lead the league (3.90 goals per game), while the Flyers are tied for third (3.10 per game). The Blueshirts, who have scored five or more goals in 10 of 21 games, are allowing 2.48 goals a game; the Flyers are surrendering 3.33 goals per game.

3. Flyers captain Claude Giroux is goal-less in his last six games; his line needs to start producing if the Flyers are going to pull away from the .500 mark.

4. The Rangers' Michael Grabner, a speedy winger who signed a team-friendly, two-year free-agent deal for a total of $3.3 million in the off-season, leads the NHL in even-strength goals (12) and plus/minus rating (plus-19).

5. Goalie Steve Mason is likely to get the start for the Flyers, who are facing the Rangers for the first of four times this season. New York is 19-6-1 vs. the Flyers dating back to March 6, 2011.