Rangers vs. Flyers: Each Team's Momentum Going into the 2012 NHL Winter Classic

Since 1975, the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers have been bitter foes. Their rivalry has been one of the most storied feuds in the history of the National Hockey League. On Monday, the two teams will take to the outdoor rink at Citizens Bank Park for the next chapter of the “Broad Street vs. Broadway” battle.

Going into the 2012 NHL Winter Classic, the Rangers sit atop the Atlantic Division with a two-point lead on the Flyers. Both teams are on a scant one-game winning streak. That said, how exactly will each team’s momentum play into the big matchup on Monday?

On the surface, it would seem that New York and Philadelphia are essentially evenly matched. They’re neck in neck in the league standings and neither team has a significant winning streak right now.

However, momentum can’t be defined by simple winning or losing streaks. Dig deeper and you’ll surely find that each team has much more going on. For example, the Flyers have one of the most lethal first lines in the NHL. The combination of Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Jaromir Jagr has played a big part in the Flyers’ astounding 123 goals this season.

Claude Giroux has become almost synonymous with scoring. Despite being setback by a concussion, Giroux continues to lead the NHL in scoring with 45 points in 32 games. Linemates Hartnell and Jagr trail him at 34 and 31 points, respectively. Without a doubt, these three will be tremendous threats to the Rangers.

It’s interesting to note that while Giroux may be the league’s top scorer, New York’s Marian Gaborik is at the top of the NHL in goal scoring with 22 goals.

Where the Flyers are definitely a scoring threat on the ice, the Rangers are certainly more defensively minded. The Rangers have the second-least goals against in the NHL. In 36 games, they have only been scored on 77 times, whereas the Flyers have been scored on 106 times in the same amount of games.

The Rangers’ low number of goals against is due to a combination of stellar defense and the amazing performance of starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist. In 27 games, Lundqvist has an amazing 1.91 goals against average and a .937 save percentage. For sure, he is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.

New York’s defensive lines also play a huge part for the Rangers. Take, for example, Michael Del Zotto. On top of having 22 points on the season, Del Zotto leads NHL defensemen with a plus-minus of 25. This is truly a testament to his value on both offense and defense.

On top of all of that, the Rangers also have been known to win the big games this season. Just over a week ago, the Rangers faced off against the Flyers, defeating them 4-2. Not only was this game a prelude to their much anticipated clash at the Winter Classic, but by winning they also tied the Flyers for first place in the Atlantic. Now they’re leading the Flyers going into the Winter Classic.

Going into the game, the Flyers have an incredible scoring record while the Rangers have an equally incredible record at minimizing goals against. Can the Flyers break through the Rangers’ seemingly invincible defenses to secure a win that would tie them for first in the division? Can the Rangers hold off the potent scoring threat that is the Philadelphia Flyers, keeping their lead in the Atlantic intact?