Game Notes: Rangers vs. Flyers Rookie Camp Game 1

The New York Rangers rookies took the ice in Allentown, Penn. last night for the first of two exhibition games against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers would fall short 3-2, but there was still plenty to take away from our first taste of the new and improved prospect pool.

• For starters, here's how the Rangers lined up.

• That top line could very well end up being the top line in Hartford this season, and the second was also filled with guys who could make some roster decisions difficult for the coaching staff during preseason.
• The Rangers got off to a sloppy start, and among the more noticeable pairings working out the rust was the top defense pair of Alberts Smits and Drew Fortescue. Smits in particular was a bit of a turnover machine in the early stages of the game, but as the night went on they looked much better.
• It's also worth noting that Smits began the game on the left side, which makes sense given Fortescue was the more experienced player. However, Fortescue struggled playing on his off hand as Smits was eventually pushed to the right.
• Turnovers aside, Smits looked quite confident playing either side and was all over the defensive zone throughout the game.

• It wasn't long before the sloppy defense caught up to the Rangers as Matthew Gard put the Flyers on the board within the first five minutes of the game. Smits-Fortescue were the pairing on the ice, along with the McConnell-Barker-Terrance-Anderson line.
• Both teams exchanged chances as the opening period went on, but plenty of kinks remained. The Rangers got their first power play, utilizing a special teams unit of Smits, Greentree, Roobroeck, Aspinall, and Beaudoin.
• Greentree came close to scoring as he ripped a shot off the post, but he would pick up the primary assist on Dylan Roobroeck's goal that tied the game up. Smits was credited with the secondary assist.

• The Rangers ended the first with another power play that carried into the second but the score remained tied at one. McConnell-Barker took the first penalty of the game for the Rangers but penalty killers Greentree, Beaudoin, Sykora, and Terrance helped keep things tied.
• With less than five minutes to go, Cole Knuble—yes, relation, son of Mike—was left unattended in the slot and pulled off a nifty move to give the Flyers the lead.

• The Rangers were outshot 14-4 in the second, as the Flyers definitely had the upper hand through two.
• Alex Bump, who played in 17 games in the NHL last season, scored early in the third to take a 3-1 lead over the Rangers.
• Soon after the Rangers ended up with another power play, and it was Nathan Aspinall scoring to bring them within one. Not only is Aspinall coming off a monstrous year in the OHL last season, but he has looked impressive in previous rookie camps with the Rangers. Don't be surprised if he's among the final cuts ahead of opening night.

• Rough start aside, Alberts Smits looked much better as the game went on and nearly tied it for the Rangers later in the third, with a pair of good chances including one of his shots ringing off the post.
• A late penalty from Jacob Battaglia hurt the Rangers chances of a comeback. While they held off the Flyers power play unit, it wasn't enough as the clock hit zero with the score 3-2.
• Things got a little chippy towards the end as Battaglia got tangled up with Noah Powell in a minor scrap. Roobroeck, who was among the standouts for the Rangers in this one, ended the night with a proper scrap as he took on Ty Murchison.

• Greentree was another standout throughout the night. Not only did he hit the post and pick up an assist on Roobroeck's goal, but he was all over the ice and played a physical game including this big hit at the start of the second.

• Here's what Fortescue and Greentree had to say in their postgame media availability.

The Rangers will face-off for game two against the Flyers tonight at 5:00 p.m.