7:07 pm
February 18

Rangers @ Flyers

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Rangers (4-7-3)

@ Philadelphia Flyers (8-3-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

Alexandar Georgiev (NYR): Confirmed

Carter Hart (PHI): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

New York Rangers: (-105)

Philadelphia Flyers: (-115)

 

• The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every team in the National Hockey League. Especially the Philadelphia Flyers as of late. The Flyers will be playing their first game since Feb. 7 when they host the New York Rangers on Thursday. Philadelphia’s roster will look much different with seven key players on the virus list including captain Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Oskar Lindblom, Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton.

• Four players called up from the taxi squad participated in Tuesday’s practice. Expect line changes against the Rangers. Moving forward, the Flyers don’t know which players will be available. In this condensed 56-game regular season, games can be bunched together. Add in the uncertainty of players on the virus list and teams must be prepared to be flexible.

• The Rangers will be hoping to avoid a fifth consecutive loss when they battle the Flyers. In their most recent game Tuesday, the Rangers fell 5-2 to the New Jersey Devils.

• Colin Blackwell and Pavel Buchnevich each scored for the Rangers while goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 32 shots. But the Rangers looked out of sync and made too many mistakes, which was evident in the result.

• The Devils played their first game following a two-week COVID-19 pause and dominated the Rangers in every aspect. If New York hopes to win a tough road game at Philadelphia, the effort must be much better. “For the majority of the game they outhit us, outskated us, outworked us, won more battles,” Chris Kreider said. “I mean, chances aside, we got away from the things that we were doing well. They flat-out wanted it more. I mean, it’s unacceptable.” The Rangers have managed only four victories this season.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Philadelphia Flyers
Previous Pick
Next Pick