The only things missing from NBC’s “Wednesday Night Rivalry” matchup between the Rangers and Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center were a couple of nasty scrums and a fight.
Or some Flyers energy earlier in the game.
Not much scoring for the orange and black, either, but if you’ve been following this series over the past several years, these games are always low scoring. That’s especially the case when Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is in net and on his game like he was Wednesday night with 30 saves.
That unfolded again in this one as the Flyers fell to 1-5-2 over their last eight games with a 5-2 drubbing by the Rangers. Kevin Hayes had two goals as did Jakub Voracek for the Flyers.
Notable goal
Kris Kreider’s semi-breakaway in the third, a shot off Radko Gudas’ stick that made it 2-0, but felt like 4-0.
Goalie report
Lundqvist was his usual brilliant, dominant self against the Flyers. Steve Mason didn’t quite have to make the saves that Lundqvist did and what he needed to do was make some big stops on two-on-one breakaways and didn't because he appears fatigued. He is 2-5-2 in nine straight starts.
Power play
The Flyers had four quality chances on their first power play and couldn’t score on Lundqvist. Voracek had an odd deflection for a goal late in the game. The Flyers were 1 for 3.
Penalty kill
The Rangers had just one power play and the Flyers killed it off.
Scratches
Defenseman Nick Schultz (healthy) and Mark Streit (left shoulder) and forward Nick Cousins (healthy).
Roster
Roman Lyubimov was not available. In order to activate Mark Alt (hurt in preseason) from injured non-roster and send the defenseman to AHL affiliate Lehigh, the Flyers had to clear a spot by sending Lyubimov to the Phantoms. He'll return Friday when Alt either clears or is claimed off waivers.
Up next
The Flyers have a complete day off Thursday and don’t play again until Saturday afternoon when they meet Tampa Bay at the Wells Fargo Center.