For the first time since 1997, The New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers meet in the NHL playoffs, hoping to add another chapter to their long time rivalry. The Rangers finished 5th in the Eastern Conference, they were the 4th best defensive team in the league, allowing 2.3 points per game, they also killed 85.3 percent of the penalties they faced, which was the 3rd best percentage in the NHL. Offensively they struggled a lot this season, scoring only 2.6 goals per game, which was 18th in the league.
The Philadelphia Flyers finished the season 6th in the Eastern Conference, 2 points behind the Rangers. They split the season series with their rivals 2-2, with both teams winning at home. The Flyers were better than the Rangers offensively during the season, averaging 2.8 points a game, which was 8th in the league, but they allowed 2.8 goals per game, which was 20th in the league. They did play well on special teams, converting on 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities, and killing 84.8 percent of their penalties, making them the 7th best team in terms of special teams.
New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers, Game 4, Friday, April 25, 2014, 7 PM. ET. CNBC
The Rangers won the first game 4-1 but couldn't put the game away until the 3rd period, both teams scored one goal apiece in the 1st. period, but the Rangers were the aggressors throughout the game, and outshot the Flyers in every period. They finally broke the game wide open in the 3rd period, after Jason Akeson of the Flyers was penalized for high sticking, with a little over seven minutes left in the game. Brad Richards and Derek Stepan scored back to back power play goals in less than a minute, and Carl Hagelin added a final score with less than five minutes left in regulation.
The Flyers ended their 9 game losing streak at Madison Square Garden with a 4-2 victory over the Rangers, they were down 2-0 eight minutes into the 1st period, after Martin St. Louis and Benoit Pouliot got past Rangers goalie Ray Emery, who was starting because Philadelphia's regular goal tender Steve Mason was injured. Jacob Voracek cut the lead in half for Philadelphia, with five minutes left in the 1st period, and Jason Akeson made up for the penalty that resulted in two power play goals in game one, by tying up the game in the 2nd period. Luke Schenn made it 3-2 in favor of Philadelphia with less than nine minute left in the 2nd period, and Wayne Simmonds iced the game with a power play goal with less than a minute left in regulation.
The Rangers have been a better team on the road all year long, and they proved it in their 4-1 victory over the Flyers in game 3. They took a two goal lead in the 1st period, after Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis both scored their second postseason goals. The Flyers tried to get back in the game after Mark Streit scored with less than three minutes left in the 1st period, but the Rangers answered with two more goals, and got the comfortable win.
Game Line: The line for this game is not yet available.
Personal Pick: The Rangers are a better team on the road than they are at home, and the Flyers still don't have Steve Mason, their starting goalie, so I expect the Rangers to win this game.
The Rangers have been a good team on the road this season, and the Flyers finally won their first game in New York since 2011, and are also dealing with an injury to their starting goalie. I don't think the Rangers will have any problems winning this series in 5 or 6 games.