Rangers-Flyers: New York Seeks Revenge

The Rangers 2009-10 NHL season ended in a shocking shootout loss on the last day of the NHL season.

The game was a win and you’re in the playoffs scenario for the New York Rangers, and they lost in the shootout, one point away from reaching the playoffs.

The team that beat them in the shootout, that would later move on to the Stanley Cup Finals (but lose to the Blackhawks), were the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

The New York Rangers organization and fan base have not forgotten about the loss and the sadness that followed. Tonight begins the 2010-11 season series against the division rival, and the Rangers are ready to start it off with a boom.

Both teams come into this game with winning streaks on the line. The Rangers have won two games in a row and the Flyers have won four games in a row. Both teams are also on top of the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference.

The Flyers have dominated offensively this season. They rank third in goals with 37 total goals. They also rank amongst the best while playing in their home arena. They hold an impressive record of 5-3-0 on home ice.

But the Rangers have a counter attack to the Flyers dominant start at home. The Rangers have played very well on the road this season, with an impressive, and surprising, record of 4-1-0 while being the away team.

Both teams will be missing one of their better players in this game. The Rangers will miss their superstar forward Marian Gaborik for the ninth game in a row, and the Flyers will be without their star forward Danny Briere who was suspended for three games earlier this week.

John Tortorella did not tell the media who he will start in goal tonight against Philly, but do not be surprised if Martin Biron is given his third start of the season.

During Wednesday morning’s practice, Rangers superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist took a puck to the jaw area after a powerful shot was taken by Rangers forward Brian Boyle.

According to Lundqvist, he turned away from the shot at the last second which exposed his neck and jaw area. The puck rammed into Henrik’s face and he immediately left the ice.

After the game he told the media that he was “fine," but he did have a large red bump on his cheek from the impact of the puck. If he is unable to play tonight Martin Biron will get the start against his former team.

The Philadelphia Flyers are expected to start rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The 22-year-old goaltending phenom holds a record of 6-2-0 in eight games for the Flyers this season, and he continues to impress NHL players, analysts and fans throughout the league.

You can bet on a strong goaltending duel between Lundqvist and Bobrovsky if they are the official starters in tonight’s game.

Nikolai Zherdev will make his first appearance against his former team, the New York Rangers, who cut ties with him in August of 2009. Zherdev was granted a contract worth $3.9 million by a salary arbitrator, and the Rangers staff decided to walk away from Zherdev, who later signed in the KHL.

Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov will look to continue their extremely hot starts to the season, as they try to keep the Rangers rolling on an impressive win streak.

Most Rangers-Flyers games turn into fighting matches quickly, so expect the Rangers to have their goon Derek Boogaard in their line-up tonight. The Rangers top enforcers will keep a sharp look-out for Dan Carcillo who beat down on superstar forward Marian Gaborik in 2009-10. Most players on the Rangers still seek revenge on Carcillo for the fight with Gaborik.

The Rangers are out to seek revenge against the Flyers, and also to prove that this season is not a fluke. The Rangers have jumped off to quick starts in their previous two seasons, not including this season, only to drop off and lose control of their game in mid-November.

The Rangers are out to prove they are no phony’s, and what better way to do that then to defeat a top division rival and one of the stronger teams in the NHL?

Tonight’s game will be a huge one, and hopefully the Rangers can find a way to come out on top.

There will be no Live Blog for tonight's game.

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