For the first time since 1997, the storied Broadway versus Broad Streetrivalry between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers will spill over to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The two teams split the season series two games apiece, with the home team prevailing in all four games. The Rangers will have the home-ice advantage over the Flyers, who do not like travelling to Madison Square Garden.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]
Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – Thursday, April 17, 7:00 PM ET – Madison Square Garden, New York
Game 2 – Sunday, April 20, 12:00 PM ET – Madison Square Garden, New York
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 22, 8:00 PM ET – Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Game 4 – Friday, April 25, 7:00 PM ET – Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Game 5 (if necessary) – Sunday, Arpil 27, 12:00 PM ET – Madison Square Garden, New York
Game 6 (if necessary) – Tuesday, April 29, Time TBA – Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Game 7 (if necessary) – Wednesday, April 30, Time TBA – Madison Square Garden, New York
The Philadelphia Flyers won’t be heading into the playoffs with a ton of momentum after losing eight of their last 12 regular season games.
Much of that decline has been due to the Flyers’ deteriorating defense. Philly has a 3 GAA over its last dozen games, causing the over to go 8-3-1 in those games. First-choice goalie Steve Mason should be ready to go for Game 1 after suffering an injury in their penultimate game against the Pens, but much is riding on him to plug those holes at the back vs. the Rangers.
Upfront, the obvious key will be Flyers captain Claude Giroux, the NHL’s third leading point-scorer (28 goals, 57 assists). Giroux leads a well-balanced Flyers attack that boasts seven players with 20 or more goals this season.
But if Philly aims to move on, Giroux must be a factor against the Rangers, instead of disappearing like he did in their four regular season meetings (0 goals and just 2 assists) this year.
Betting on the New York Rangers
[sc:NHL240 ]The New York Rangers had a hard to gauge end to their regular season. In their last seven games, the Rangers won four times, all against teams with non-winning records, and lost three times to teams with winning records.
The under went 5-0-2 in those seven games, thanks to the Rangers’ star netminder, Henrik Lundqvist. The former Veniza winner had another stellar season, finishing second in GAA (2.36) and third in save percentage (.920) among goalies with 60+ games. The Rangers will need another great effort from Lundqvist to repel the Flyers’ multifaceted attack.
On the other end, the Rangers don’t have nearly as many weapons as the Flyers, but in Rick Nash (team-high 26 goals), the emergent Mats Zuccarello (team-high 59 points) and reigning Art Ross Martin St. Louis, New York definitely has the talent to test Philly’s flimsy backline.
The Rangers will enjoy home-ice advantage, which may just be the deciding factor in this series. New York has won eight straight games against the Flyers in Madison Square Garden.
Writer’s Prediction
With Game 1 in MSG, expect the Rangers to extend their home domination over Philly to take the early lead in the series. And with Lundqvist providing the Rangers with the clear goalie advantage over the Flyers, the Rangers should pull off the series win in six games.
