Rangers Vs. Flyers Preview: Rangers Look To Top Another Division Foe In Hunt For Playoffs

The New York Rangers will head into Philadelphia tonight for a meeting with the Flyers. The Rangers topped the New York Islanders just three days ago, as they look to continue their playoff push. With two days of rest under their belts, the Rangers will be refreshed and ready to rock in Philadelphia. If all goes as planned, the Rangers could find themselves in possession of the sixth seed by the end of the night.

If the Rangers win along with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Winnipeg Jets all losing in regulation, the Rangers will vault all of them in the standings. But before we go that far ahead, let's just worry about the two points at hand tonight as they are even more critical. The Rangers basically control their own destiny with just seven games remaining, and they will take all of the points they can get.

VS.

New York Rangers (21-16-4) vs Philadelphia Flyers (18-21-3)
Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA - 7:30 PM
Television: NBC Sports Network, RDS | Radio: ESPN NY 98.7
Opponent's Blog: Broad Street Hockey | Tickets: New York Rangers Tickets

Some Quick Thoughts:

• The New York Rangers will continue to go with the same lineup that they have been using since the trade deadline. There has been some lineup shifts as Derick Brassard, and Ryane Clowe move down to the third line.
• With the Flyers on the outside looking in, the Rangers can't expect this to be a walk in the park. Simply put, the Flyers have nothing left to play for. Don't you think they would want a chance to hinder a division foe's playoff chances? Regardless of what place the Flyers are in, the Rangers need to play this game as if it were the playoffs.
• Marc Staal and Derek Dorsett both skated during today's optional skate. Dorsett hasn't been cleared for full contact yet, while Staal's vision still isn't at a level where he can play with it. Both are still a ways off, but if the Rangers can get one or even both back, that would be a huge boost to the lineup./

Projected Lineup:

Rick Nash - Derek Stepan - Ryan Callahan
Carl Hagelin - Brad Richards - Brian Boyle
Ryane Clowe - Derick Brassard - Mats Zuccarello
Arron Asham - Darroll Powe - Taylor Pyatt

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi
Anton Stralman - Michael Del Zotto
Steve Eminger - John Moore

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

Scratches: Matt Gilroy (healthy), Roman Hamrlik (healthy), Marc Staal (upper-body), Derek Dorsett (upper-body).