After getting beat down by Alain Vigneault’s Flyers for the second time in as many meeting this season, the Rangers will be hoping the third time’s the charm this afternoon. A scheduled puck drop for 12:00 sharp means a couple of things. Today’s matinee contest will  see NBC’s top broadcast team call the action once the puck actually drops at some time around 12:15.

In spite of failing to gain ground in the playoff race on Friday night, the Rangers are still in position to move into a playoff spot with a win today. A victory this afternoon would allow the Rangers to leap Carolina (75 Points, 63 GP) and Columbus (76 Points, 66 GP) for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference for the time being. The Blue Jackets will host the Vancouver Canucks later tonight for a chance to earn two points of their own, but the Blueshirts would sit in playoff position for a couple of hours.

Player to Watch: Henrik Lundqvist

After watching Alexandar Georgiev take the loss during New York’s last outing against the Flyers, the team’s one-time franchise pillar will get the nod in net for the first game of March. Aside from six minutes in relief of Igor Shesterkin in Winnipeg on February 11th, Lundqvist has yet to see game action since a sub-par outing in Dallas on February 3rd. Look for him to turn back the clock and do what he’s done best for the better part of his career: Drag an otherwise completely unqualified Rangers’ squad into playoff position by himself.

Enjoy the game!