Rangers try to end skid against Flyers
Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers skates against Andrej Meszaros #41 of the Philadelpia Flyers at Madison Square Garden. (Feb. 20, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Whatever shot of confidence the Rangers received from beating the lowly Senators in Ottawa on Friday night will be tested Sunday afternoon when the Flyers come to town.
In his postgame comments, Ryan Callahan talked about "meeting the challenge against Philly," which has beaten the Rangers in all four meetings this season. But the Eastern Conference-leading Flyers likely will be especially surly, having lost their third straight and fifth in seven games Saturday. The Flyers let a 2-0 second-period lead evaporate on home ice and lost, 5-3, to Buffalo.
That was a double-whammy for the Rangers: With the win, the ninth-place Sabres climbed to within two points of the Rangers for a playoff spot and have three games in hand. And the seventh-place Rangers, one point ahead of Carolina, have struggled at home, having lost three straight at the Garden. They are 14-16-3 at home this season.
"We haven't had much margin for error," coach John Tortorella said. "Surges and momentum, that's been a very important part of this year, and hopefully, we'll keep some on our side."
The Flyers likely will start goalie Brian Boucher, who has won four of his last five starts. With backup Martin Biron (broken collarbone) sidelined, Tortorella has to ride Henrik Lundqvist, who presumably will see many Flyers bodies in front a game after he physically responded to some extracurricular third-period activity from the Senators on Friday.
"I had the puck and he [Nick Foligno] came in late and didn't want to let me go," said Lundqvist, who put his glove in the faces of Foligno and Chris Neil during the ensuing scrum. "I don't know why he kept holding on to me there."
Lundqvist, who generally avoids confrontations, also jumped Max Pacioretty on Jan. 15 in Montreal. Joked Lundqvist, "Maybe it's the water [in Canada]."
Notes & quotes:Marian Gaborik (concussion) is likely to miss his seventh straight game . . . D Ryan McDonagh might be able to play if his wrenched knee continues to respond to rest and treatment . . . Rangers prospect and Boston College forward Chris Kreider, ranked the No. 18 prospect overall by The Hockey News, broke his jaw after being struck with a shot and is out for the season . . . The Rangers will leave immediately after Sunday's game for a two-game trip to the West Coast, visiting Anaheim and San Jose.
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