Sizing up the Flyers-Rangers series
The matchup The Flyers (42-30-10) finished third in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points, two points behind the second-place Rangers (45-31-6). The winner of this best-of-seven series will face the Pittsburgh-Columbus survivor.
The matchup
The Flyers (42-30-10) finished third in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points, two points behind the second-place Rangers (45-31-6). The winner of this best-of-seven series will face the Pittsburgh-Columbus survivor.
The Flyers and Rangers split the season series, with each team winning twice on its home ice. New York outscored the Flyers, 10-8.
The MSG hex
Much has been made about the Flyers' losing eight straight in Madison Square Garden since 2011. It should be pointed out, however, that the rest of the NHL hasn't had many problems this season at the Garden, where the Rangers actually had more losses (21) than wins (20).
The $64,000 (before inflation) question
Can Ray Emery do a commendable job replacing the injured Steve Mason? Mason was superb in three starts against the Rangers this season.
History
The teams have met in the playoffs 10 times, with the Flyers winning six of the series, including the last one in 1997.
The reunion
Vinny Lecavalier will be facing two Rangers who were his teammates with Tampa Bay when the Lightning won the 2004 Stanley Cup: Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis.
Injuries
Flyers: Mason and winger Steve Downie are day-to-day with undisclosed upper-body injuries.
Rangers: Winger Chris Kreider is expected to miss the first round after undergoing hand surgery. Derick Brassard, who scored a career-high 18 goals, left Tuesday's practice with a back injury but participated in Wednesday's practice and said he felt 100 percent.
The numbers
The Flyers averaged 2.84 goals per game and allowed 2.77, while the Rangers averaged 2.61 goals per game and surrendered 2.32.
New York has allowed two or fewer goals in eight straight against the Flyers at Madison Square Garden — and in 14 of its last 17 games overall in the series.
Lundqvist is 8-0 with a 1.13 GAA, a .960 save percentage, and two shutouts in his last eight games against the Flyers at Madison Square Garden.
The Flyers are 21-2-1 when Giroux scores a goal.
The Rangers are better on the road (25-14-2) than at home (20-17-4).
The Flyers won 50 percent of their faceoffs this season; the Rangers won 48.8 percent.
The Flyers had a better power play (19.7 percent success rate to the Rangers' 18.2 percent), while New York had a slight edge on the penalty kill (85.3 percent to 84.8 percent).
Probable lineups
FLYERS
Lines
Scott Hartnell-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Michael Raffl-Brayden Schenn-Wayne Simmonds
Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Jason Akeson
Zac Rinaldo-Vinny Lecavalier-Adam Hall
Defense
Kimmo Timonen-Braydon Coburn
Mark Streit-Nick Grossmann
Andrew MacDonald-Luke Schenn
Goalie
Ray Emery
RANGERS
Lines
Benoit Pouliot-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello
Rick Nash-Derek Stepan-Martin St. Louis
Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Jesper Fast
Brian Boyle-Dominic Moore-Derek Dorsett
Defense
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
John Moore-Kevin Klein
Goalie
Henrik Lundqvist
The keys
For the Flyers: Getting traffic in front of Henrik Lundqvist and producing some "dirty" goals — something they lacked in the season series.
For the Rangers: Having defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi shut down the Giroux line, as they did in the season.
The pick
The feeling here is that the Flyers will finally end their Madison Square Garden losing streak, but it won't be enough because the Rangers are a great road team and will find a way to win at the Wells Fargo Center. Lundqvist never seems to give up any cheapies against the Flyers, and he will be the difference.
Choice: Rangers in seven.