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Flyers Gameday: 4-9-09 vs. NYR |
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PREVIEW
The Flyers can take a giant step toward clinching home ice in the first round while delaying the New York Rangers from securing a playoff spot when the archrivals face off tonight at Madison Square Garden. The clubs will also play at the Wachovia Center on Sunday in the final game of the 2008-09 regular season.
The teams have split the season series to date, with both clubs winning once at home and once on the road. The last time the Flyers played the Rangers, they allowed Sean Avery's antics to throw them off their games. Adding insult to injury, Avery torched Philadelphia offensively in that game. Henrik Lundqvist (25 saves on 26 shots) outplayed Antero Niittymäki in goal.
The biggest challenge for the Flyers tonight will be establish a strong defensive presence early and to avoid bad penalties. If Philly can take the Madison Square Garden crowd out of the game and go off leading or tied after the first period, they should be in good shape.
The Flyers have a 35-10-6 record in games they lead or are tied in after the opening 20 minutes. When leading or tied after two periods, Philly's mark is a gaudy 39-4-8, including a 13-2-6 record in games that are tied through two periods (by comparison, the Rangers are a pedestrian 10-8-4 when they fail to take a lead to the locker room for the second intermission).
Ryan Parent (groin pull) will miss tonight's game. As of this writing, the Flyers have not yet announced a callup, but Danny Syvret or Nate Guenin seem to be the most likely candidates.
FLYERS LINES (Subject to change)
Gagne - Richards -Knuble
Hartnell - Carter - Lupul
Carcillo - Giroux - Briere
Nödl - Powe - Asham
Timonen - ??? (Syvret? Guenin?)
Carle - Coburn
Alberts - Jones
Biron
[Niittymäki]
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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