Flyers vs. Rangers Playoff Preview

Ah, playoff hockey is back. The most exciting playoffs in the big four of American professional sports. Everything about the game changes. The pace is much faster, the crowd is a bigger factor, the hits are a lot harder, the beards are a lot longer. Any second a puck could hit the twine, light the lamp, and lift you to a euphoric height of emotion. Or punch you right in the gut, depending on which team scored. Players leave it all on the ice, blocking shots travelling at plus 100 MPH, backchecking hard knowing they're about to be demolished by a forechecker. No matter what it is they have to do, they do it all for their chance at hoisting up the Stanley Cup.

The Philadelphia Flyers begin this hard fought quest for Lord Stanley's Cup tomorrow night against the New York Rangers. The two teams split their season series at 2 games a piece, each team winning the two games they had on their home ice. Unfortunately for the Flyers, the series opens up at Madison Square Garden. The Flyers have struggled mightily at MSG, losing the last 8 times they have played there. But, home ice can slip from your grasp in one period of hockey, so let's not write the Fly Guys off quite yet.

One major concern for the Flyers is the goaltending in this series. It was just announced today that Steve Mason, the Flyers projected starting goaltender, would not start on Thursday. Mason missed practice Wednesday because of an injury he suffered during Saturday's game with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Penguin's forward Jayson Megna pushed Flyers defender Andrew Macdonald into Mason, causing the injury. The extent of the injury is not being reported out of the Flyers' camp, however it is suspected to be a possible concussion.

This is definitely bad news, but backup goaltender Ray Emery is a more than qualified starter in this series. He has had some struggles this season posting a 9-12 record with a 2.96 goals against average, and a .903 save percentage. Yet, against the Rangers in his career he is 7-2 with a 1.87 GAA and a .936 SV%. Not too shabby Ray, not too shabby.

The Flyers injury at goaltender is a concern, but it may be the secondary goaltending concern they have in this series. NYR goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is not just devilishly handsome...

...but he is also a pretty dominant goaltender against the Flyers in his career. In 39 games against the Flyers, Lundqvist is 23-11-3 with 4 shutouts and a 2.54 GAA. 

So, the Flyers have their work cut out for them starting tomorrow night at MSG. Gotta hope they can reverse the curse and snag home ice away from the Rangers in the first two games. Then come home to Wells Fargo and take care of business. 

Key Players:

Flyers:

Claude Giroux, Captain, team leader in points (86) and assists (58).

Wayne Simmonds, team leader in goals (29) and my vote for most underrated player in the NHL. And he can fight.

Jakub Voracek, second on the team in points (62) and assists (39).

Sean Couturier, not necessarily a scorer, but a HUGE piece to the Flyers penalty kill.Gets the puck out of the defensive zone and wins defensive zone draws on the penalty kill with the best in the league. 

Rangers:

Mats Zuccarello, team leader in points (59) and co-leader in assists (40).

Rick Nash, team leader in goals (26) and provides veteran leadership.

Ryan McDonagh, shutdown defenseman with world class skating ability who provides offensive fire power (43 points, 29 assists).

Derek Stepan, second on the team in points (57) and co-leader in assists (40).

The game can be seen tomorrow night at 7 PM on Comcast Sportsnet.