NEW YORK -- Another big weekend for the Flyers fizzled out again.
Dave Hakstol’s team suffered a major hit to its playoff hopes Sunday night with an ugly 3-1 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Flyers are 0-2-2 this month against Metropolitan Division opponents — all of whom are ahead of them in the standings.
There was more fight in the Flyers in the opening minute of play than the rest of the game.
The Flyers are now seven points behind the Devils and six points out of the wild card. They began the weekend four points out.
Unlike Saturday’s overtime loss to the Devils when the Flyers had scoring chances on Cory Schneider, they had few against Henrik Lundqvist.
Derek Stepan had two goals for New York.
Brayden Schenn scored the Flyers' lone goal with under 10 seconds left on the power play. Shayne Gostisbehere picked up an assist, extending his point streak to 12 games.
Notable goals
How about Mats Zuccarello’s backhand pass in the slot to a wide-open Stepan for the Rangers' second goal in the final period?
Faceoffs
The Flyers won 63 percent of the draws in the opening period and had won 61 percent through two periods. Even so, they didn’t use puck possession to generate scoring chances.
Goalie report
Steve Mason should have had the post covered on Derick Brassard’s wraparound. Mason faced the harder chances all night, finishing with 27 saves.
Power play
The Flyers had a four-minute power play in the first period and controlled the puck in the Rangers end for 2:19 without scoring. That’s because Gostisbehere was cut and couldn’t get on the ice until the final 1:03 of the advantage. Mark Streit just doesn’t have it and the second power-play unit as a whole can’t do anything.
The Flyers finished 1 of 5 on the power play.
Penalty kill
The Rangers are not very good on the power play to begin with. Going into the third period, both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play, but the Rangers got one from Stepan late in the game. They finished 1 of 4.
Fights
Wayne Simmonds vs. Dylan McIlrath (draw) plus Ryan White vs. Tanner Glass (decision for Glass) in the opening minute of the game.
This was all the result of Simmonds’ forearm shiver that concussed Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh last week in Philadelphia.
Injuries
Matt Read took a puck off his left knee in the third period.
Scratches
Forwards Sean Couturier (right foot), Sam Gagner and Jordan Weal (both healthy); defensemen Brandon Manning (healthy) and Michael Del Zotto (left wrist).
Up next
The Flyers have an off day Monday in Manhattan and meet the Devils on Tuesday at Prudential Center.