Flyers’ six-game point streak ends against Rangers, 6-1

Following a 2-1 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers (22-21-6) traveled up to Madison Square Garden for a rivalry matchup against the New York Rangers (24-20-4).

Going into Thursday, the Flyers were winners of five out of their last six games and on a six-game point streak. At the hands of the Rangers, the Flyers’ point streak came to an end.

As things currently stand, the Flyers sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with 50 points and are sixth in the Eastern Conference Wild Card.

Flyers at Rangers

Owen Tippett wasted no time opening the scoring in The Big Apple. On a three-on-one, Morgan Frost dished a pass to Travis Konecny, who then fed a pass that hit off Tippett’s skate and trickled behind Igor Shesterkin. Tippett was in a stopping motion when the puck hit his skate, so there was no need to send the play to review. Tippett’s goal was his 14th of the season and his 30th point.

Near the halfway point of the first period, Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider leveled the contest. Schneider made his way deep into the offensive zone from the blue line and at an awkward angle, his shot was deflected in front of the net and the puck found its way past Samuel Ersson.

Just over one minute later, Adam Edstrom gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Battling in front of the net, Edstrom managed to deflect a point shot from Ryan Lindgren.

Despite an early goal from Tippett, the Rangers controlled the remainder of the period and managed to get 15 shots on Ersson. In a win against the New Jersey Devils last Saturday, the Flyers only gave up 13 shots during the whole game.

K’Andre Miller doubled the Rangers’ in the second period, 3-1. Miller received a pass from Will Borgen and fired a wrist shot that beat Ersson on his blocker side.

The Flyers were being outplayed and outpaced throughout the first 40 minutes, and the second period more than confirmed it. Chances were minimal and the Rangers carried all of the momentum into the third period.

Filip Chytil added the Rangers’ fourth just over five minutes into the third. His 11th of the season, Chytil scored off a deflection from an Urho Vaakanainen shot.

Given a powerplay opportunity with five minutes left in regulation, the Flyers pulled Ersson but weren’t able to find any success with the man advantage. Adam Fox potted an empty net goal on the Rangers’ penalty kill for his third goal of the season.

Reilly Smith scored his 10th goal of the season with less than two minutes left to extend the Rangers’ lead to 6-1. On the powerplay, Smith saw a loose puck in the crease behind Ersson and added an easy goal.

Lights out from Shesterkin

After giving up a goal to Tippett in the opening minutes of the first, Igor Shesterkin was lights out for the remainder of the game for the Rangers. Saving 35/36 shots and finishing the night with a .972 SV%, Shesterkin picked up his 17th win of the season. The former Vezina Trophy winner has struggled this season, but he managed to stand tall against a divisional rival.

Frost continues to produce

Morgan Frost tallied an assist on Tippett’s goal. It was his 14th assist of the season and 25th overall point of the season. Throughout his last 10 games played, Frost has seven points and his ice time has been extended since the Christmas break.