What happened last night?
Those famous words usually follow an event that spiraled out of control. Losing, 9-2, is the epitome of out of control. The Philadelphia Flyers were outhustled, outmanned, and outplayed by the Washington Capitals. Bobby Brink secured his first NHL point, however. It’s the lone silver lining of the latest Flyers hockey experience.
Philadelphia can’t be stuck on last night. The final stretch wasn’t ever about winning but a learning experience for the young prospects. They’re going through their growing pains.
Last night was ugly, but tonight doesn’t need to be the same. The Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center to host the New York Rangers as the team honors Ed Snider before the 7pm faceoff.
New York Rangers (47-21-6; 100pts)
Out of the lineup are Samuel Blais (ACL,) Tyler Motte (upper body,) and Filip Chytil (upper body.) Jonny Brodzinski, Julien Gauthier, Greg McKegg, Patrik Nemeth, and Libor Hajek list healthy scratches.
The projected lineup for the New York Rangers:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Vatrano
Panarin-Strome-Copp
Lafreniere-Goodrow-Kakko
Hunt-Rooney-Reaves
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Braun-Schneider
Georgiev
(Shesterkin)
Alexandar Georgiev (12-9-2, 3.03GAA, 89.4%SV) is the likely goaltender on a back-to-back schedule. He’s yet to face the Philadelphia Flyers this season. Georgiev is 4-3-0 in his career against the Flyers, performing far better than his current metrics show.
Frank Vatrano (16G, 13A) earns the opposing spotlight. In four games against Philadelphia, he has an assist. Thus far, he’s opposed the Flyers three times as a Florida Panther and once as a Ranger. Ironically, his only loss to Philadelphia comes as a member of his new Rangers team.
Philadelphia Flyers (23-39-11; 57pts)
Out of the lineup are Ryan Ellis (lower body,) Sean Couturier (back,) Nick Seeler (lower body,) Carter Hart (lower body,) Nate Thompson (lower body,) Patrick Brown (upper body,) Cam York (lower body,) Rasmus Ristolainen (upper body,) and Cam Atkinson (lower body.) Keith Yandle, Oskar Lindblom, Yegor Zamula, and Zack MacEwen re-enter the lineup as Tanner Laczynski makes his 2021-2022 debut.
The projected lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers:
Farabee-Hayes-Konecny
Cates, N-Laughton-Tippett
van Riemsdyk-Frost-Brink
Lindblom-Laczynski-MacEwen
Provorov-Sanheim
Zamula-Connauton
Yandle-Attard
Jones
(Sandstrom)
Felix Sandstrom (0-0-1, 2.79GAA, 93.5%SV) will start. Sandstrom made his debut this season in a stellar effort against the San Jose Sharks. Tonight is his first start against the New York Rangers.
Ivan Provorov (46.6%CF, 145BLK, 74GV, -16) gets the home spotlight. He’s yet to record a point against the Rangers this season. Over the last five games, Provorov added a goal and an assist. He and Cam York were the best defensive duo on the ice for the Flyers in a submissive defeat to the Washington Capitals.
Props/Predictions
Frank Vatrano anytime score (+225)
Ivan Provorov anytime score (+600)
Rangers moneyline (-210)
Correct Score Prediction: Flyers 2, Rangers 4 (+1700)
(Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre)
