Game #72: Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Rangers Open Thread

The Rangers are back in action tonight following a pair of days off, the final time the Blueshirts will be out of action for multiple days until the end of the regular season. Peter Laviolette’s squad will take the ice every other day from now until the regular season finale on April 15th, and the Blueshirts begin this stretch with a Metropolitan Division matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers.

In addition to the usual stakes of bragging rights for the rivalry’s sake, the Rangers are playing for a little something extra tonight. If the Blueshirts can earn as many points from this game as the Detroit Red Wings do in their contest against the Washington Capitals, the Rangers will become the first team in the NHL to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are a handful of permutations that can change what the Rangers can and can’t do to clinch a spot tonight, but the simplest way is to defeat the Flyers.

Player to Watch: Chris Kreider

As the longest tenured Blueshirt, a win tonight will mark a return to the playoffs for the ninth time in Kreider’s career. Bursting onto the scene straight out of Boston College during the 2012 playoffs, Kreider is the only Ranger still with the team to have been around during John Tortorella’s time in New York. Tortorella is now behind Philadelphia’s bench, so keep an eye on Kreider to have a strong game against his old bench boss.

Enjoy the game!