Flyers host Rangers ahead of 2023 NHL Trade Deadline

As teams begin to move and shake rosters with two days remaining before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, the rest of the season continues to rage toward the postseason.

In the last two efforts, the Philadelphia Flyers got manhandled by their opponents. Versus the Montreal Canadiens, the defense left the goaltenders out to dry. Then, the New Jersey Devils put up a touchdown in a shutout.

The New York Rangers will visit the Wells Fargo Center after obtaining Patrick Kane and Cooper Zech yesterday. Kane will not be in the lineup tonight, making his Rangers debut tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

New York Rangers (34-17-9)

Defeating the Los Angeles Kings, 5-2, the Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak. The Flyers could play a spoiler to a recent change of fortune before Kane debuts. It’ll be a massive challenge considering recent performances. Philadelphia opposes a sensational offensive lineup while lacking defensive structure lately.

Artemi Panarin (19G, 48A) has three points (1G, 2A) in his last five games. He attacks in the offensive zone, usually targeting high-quality shots on goal. Many of his chances will originate in the faceoff circle or slot, a problem area for the Flyers’ defense. In December 2022, Panarin notched two points (1G, 1A) in Philadelphia during a 6-3 win.

Vincent Trocheck (19G, 28A) has seven points (4G, 3A) over the last five games. His partners in crime as of late include Vladimir Tarasenko and Panarin. Ranking second on the team in shots on goal, Trocheck finds his groove in the slot and off a pass at the point. Trocheck tallied an assist in the aforementioned 6-3 win over the Flyers in December 2022.

Here’s the tentative lineup for the New York Rangers:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Tarasenko
Panarin-Trocheck-Goodrow
Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey-Carpenter-Motte

Mikkola-Fox
Harpur-Trouba
Schneider

Shesterkin
(Halak)

Philadelphia Flyers (23-28-10)

Yesterday, there was an update of sorts on Travis Konecny. He will be out for two or three weeks, but Philadelphia may consider shutting him down for the remainder of the season. Zack MacEwen remains out of the lineup with a broken jaw. Everyone else is in as the Flyers move forward with eleven forwards and seven defensemen.

Kevin Hayes (17G, 31A) has an assist in his last five games. His name swirled around the rumor mill recently, drawing interest from teams like the Winnipeg Jets and Carolina Hurricanes at a time. He isn’t out of the lineup for any trade-related reason. Hayes had one of the few scoring chances against the Devils in the shutout, ringing a puck off the post. The last time these two teams played, Hayes was a healthy scratch.

Travis Sanheim (-8, 100BLK, 30GV, 45.1%CF) struggles to make an impression. Like Hayes, he did ring a puck off the post in New Jersey, put almost doesn’t count. Another similarity to Hayes is a healthy scratch, which Sanheim experienced against the Calgary Flames. Tortorella outright mentioned when Sanheim joins the rush in the offensive zone, that’s when Sanheim is playing his game. He did against the Devils, but the effort didn’t resolve in a goal.

Here’s the tentative lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers:

Laughton-Cates-Allison
Farabee-Frost-Tippett
Deslauriers-Desnoyers-Brown
van Riemsdyk-Hayes-Braun

Provorov-York
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Seeler-DeAngelo

Hart
(Sandstrom)