Source: NJ Star Ledger

Source: NJ Star Ledger

This game could have –and should have– been a blowout for the Flyers. But as usual, Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in it and made it a game. Hank was the best Ranger on the ice n the first period, stopping a lot of quality chances for the Flyers. There was also nothing he could do on both of the Flyer goals in the second period.

Flyers 1, Rangers 0

It’s ironic that Joe was mentioning that Kimmo Timmonen and Luke Schenn were pinching a lot this game. It was something that they were doing all game, and it’s because of the way the Rangers play in the defensive zone. The Rangers play a collapsing box, and that leaves the point men with a wide berth. This gives them the opportunity to pinch more effectively. This goal was a product of the pinch. The Flyers were able to maintain possession, and it wound up on Nick Grossman’s stick. His shot, which appeared to be going wide, took a few bounces and wound up hitting Wayne Simmonds’ leg and in. Good luck will always find teams who maintain possession and get pucks to the net.

Flyers 2, Rangers 0

After Kris Newbury takes a penalty for a face wash prior to his fight with Tye McGinn, the Flyers went to work on the powerplay. The puck winds up at the goal line on Hank’s stick side, and Hank makes a nice save on Simmonds’ shot from the bad angle. However, both Ryan McDonagh and Brian Boyle went to take out Sean Couturier in front, and left Jakub Voracek wide open behind them for the easy poke-in.

Rangers 1, Flyers 2

This goal began with Rick Nash maintaining possession in the offensive zone and drawing multiple defenders to him. He eventually gets the puck to Marian Gaborik on a perfect backhand pass. Gaborik gets a shot off, but it gets blocked. Luckily for him, it ricocheted right back to him and left the defender out of position. While all this is going on, Pyatt was working the front of the net screening Ilya Bryzgalov. Once Gaborik regains puck possession, Pyatt shifts from screening Bryz to putting himself in position for a shot. Gaborik feeds Pyatt for the easy tap in.

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