Hot Rangers visit for two games with a chance to pass the Flyers in the division
The fading Flyers will host the Rangers on Thursday — the teams' first meeting since Philadelphia's infamous 9-0 loss to the Blueshirts last week.
The last time the Flyers met the New York Rangers, they played a game that will live in franchise infamy.
That loss last Wednesday was the worst shutout road defeat in the Flyers’ history — and it equaled their second-worst margin of defeat ever. The Flyers have lost three of four games since that defeat, and they will try to pay back the Rangers when they meet Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers (15-12-4) fifth in the East Division, will also host the sixth-place Rangers (14-13-4) on Saturday afternoon. New York is two points behind the Flyers.
The teams are going in opposite directions. The Flyers have lost three straight and eight of their last 11; the Rangers have won three of their last four games — all under acting coach Kris Knoblauch, a former Flyers assistant — and have points in five of their last six.
Knoblauch has replaced David Quinn, who is sidelined because of the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin (2.31 GAA, .921 save percentage) will start Thursday as he makes his first appearance since being sidelined March 4 with a groin injury. New York went 6-4 without him.
The Flyers will use Brian Elliott (2.88, .892) if Alain Vigneault continues alternating his goalies. Carter Hart (3.85, .875) was the goalie Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to New Jersey.
Making strides
Oskar Lindblom (5 goals, 10 points in 27 games) and Nolan Patrick (3 goals, 6 points in 31 games), forwards who had to overcome severe medical issues last season, are making strides, general manager Chuck Fletcher said.
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Fletcher said Lindblom, who missed most of last year as he battled a rare bone cancer, was “getting his timing back. I think with another full summer, he will be even better next year. He’s starting to win more battles. He’s starting to get to the right spots on the ice. He’s making a few more plays. We’ve seen a lot of progress with Oskar. Same with Nolan. It hasn’t been reflected in the stats necessarily, but I really liked his game recently.”
Morin update
Fletcher said he expects Samuel Morin, who has been playing defense for the Phantoms, to be back with the Flyers at some point this season. Morin was slowed by injuries the previous three years, “and it just takes time to get back to the pace of play,” Fletcher said.
Breakaways
Morgan Frost is doing well after shoulder surgery about eight weeks ago and may be able to get back on the ice in two weeks, Fletcher said, adding that in a best-case scenario, the center would return to play late in the season. ... Fletcher said that defenseman Erik Gustafsson has played “as advertised” and that he’s “good on the power play, and one of our best defensemen at exiting the D-zone,” but that more consistency is needed.
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