Broad Street takes on Broadway tonight in one of the NHL’s oldest rivalries. The Flyers (4-9-4, 12 pts.) are struggling, dropping to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. It’s been a much better campaign from the Rangers (8-7-1, 17 pts.), currently in possession of third place. Still, both sides have plenty to prove coming into Thursday’s grudge match.
New York comes into this one as favorites (-148), with Philadelphia priced at +124 on the moneyline. The total is set at 5.5 goals. Read on for a Flyers vs. Rangers prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s game, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.
Flyers vs. Rangers prediction, preview
To call this season a struggle is putting it lightly for the Flyers. Where this group has truly fallen short is on offense, averaging a league-worst 2.18 goals per game. Philadelphia sits within hockey’s bottom seven clubs in shots per game (23.4) and power play percentage (16.7%) as well. The team comes into this one desperately in need of a win, having lost four of their previous five games played. To make matters worse, four of the contests during that stretch came at home. It’s not as if these losses have all been to elite clubs. The Flyers have fallen short against mediocre squads such as Pittsburgh, Detroit, Anaheim and Columbus.
Matvei Michkov has made quite the impact this season, already notching ten goals. However, no other player on the roster has scored more than four times. In fact, Michkov and Trevor Zegras (4 G, 10 A) are the only Flyers to record over ten points this season. Defensively, this is a fairly mediocre unit; Philadelphia ranks 21st in goals allowed per game (3.35). The absence of oft-injured veteran Rasmus Ristolainen (hand) can’t be ignored either.
It’s not as if the Rangers have been lighting up the scoreboard this season. They’re putting up 3.00 goals per game, tied for 19th-most in the NHL. A subpar power play (18.6 PP%) hasn’t helped matters. On the bright side, this is a fairly diverse offensive attack. Eight different New York skaters have tallied at least four goals. Alexis Lafreniere (9 G, 7 A) has been particularly good at left wing, living up to his massive potential. Pricey offseason pickup Pavel Dorofeyev has gotten off to a rough start. However, the forward has scored twice over his last four outings.
New York has done a good job of improving its defense, emerging as an above-average group of blueliners. The Rangers are giving up 2.94 goals per game to opponents, tied for ninth-best in the NHL. As always, two-way threat Adam Fox has been the catalyst. In addition to his work inside New York’s zone, the three-time All-Star is tied for fifth in the league with 17 assists. Vladislav Gavrikov, second on the team in plus/minus (+4), also deserves a mention. The Blueshirts lead the NHL with a 90.4% penalty kill percentage as well.
Flyers vs. Rangers pick, best bet
New York has been much better at home, going 7-2 this season at Madison Square Garden. That doesn’t bode well for Thursday’s visitors, a group that can’t seem to win at any venue. Philadelphia’s offensive ineptitude is a major hindrance, one that doesn’t seem to be getting much better. On the road, against a Rangers squad that dismantles opposing power plays? It’s not looking great for the Flyers tonight.
