Flyers Notes: Flyers' top line gets a bit of a break at home

Because the Flyers will get the last line change at home, the top unit of Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, and Scott Hartnell won't face the New York Rangers' standout defensive pairing - Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi - as often when the series switches to the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night.

"They'll get those guys out there enough," Flyers coach Craig Berube said of the Rangers duo.

Berube said the Flyers' No. 1 line "just has to keep competing the way they are. I thought they did a better job last game being competitive, supporting each other better, using their speed."

The Giroux line was stymied in Thursday's 4-1 loss in Game 1, but it was much more active - combining for a goal, two assists, and a plus-4 rating - in a 4-2 win Sunday in Game 2.

"The last game we played against those two, we found a way to get more offense, play in their zone a little more, put a little more pressure on them," Giroux said.

Asked if he would rather not face McDonagh and Girardi, Giroux smiled. "What do you think?" he asked.

In the series, McDonagh is minus-3, Girardi is minus-2. But they have shutdown capabilities.

If Giroux's line is matched against other defensemen, Voracek said, it won't necessarily make things easier.

"They have other quality Ds as well," he said. "All six of their defensemen are very good, so we have to make sure we do the same thing we do on McDonagh and Girardi. Keep it simple and try to work them as much as possible."

The Rangers went 25-14-2 on the road this season, including a 23-8-2 record in their final 33 road contests. The Blueshirts set a franchise record for road wins in a season.

New York, which lost both regular-season games at the Well Fargo Center, led the Eastern Conference in road victories.

The Flyers were 24-14-3 at home, and went 22-7-3 at the Wells Fargo Center after a 2-7 start there. . . . Scott Hartnell had an assist in each playoff game and had a total of nine hits. . . . The Flyers have been in the penalty box for 19 minutes, 50 seconds, while the Rangers have been in the box for 6:50. . . . The Rangers' Brad Richards told the New York Daily News the Flyers were "a little more desperate" than his team in Game 2. . . . Luke and Brayden Schenn's parents will travel from Saskatchewan to attend Tuesday's game. It will be the first time they have watched both of their sons in live playoff action. "It's pretty exciting for the family, to be sure," Luke Schenn said.