AP Photo/Kathy Willens

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

As we wrote in our previous game preview for the Flyers, Peter Laviolette throws two different forechecking looks at the opposition. The first look is the 2-1-2 forecheck, which the Rangers utilize as well. This is an aggressive system designed to create pressure below the dots and cause turnovers down low.

Once the Flyers get a lead, they tend to switch to a more conservative 2-3 left wing lock. This system also sends two forecheckers into the zone, but the third forward sits back with the defense up high. This ensures protection against odd man rushes, but also provides some pressure to create turnovers. Since the two teams play a similar system, the Rangers need their defensemen to time their pinches well and keep the puck in Philadelphia’s endzone.

In their own zone, the Flyers play a low zone collapse, which is similar to the Rangers. This creates a logjam in the high-priced real estate, but gives some leeway at the point for puck movement.

On special teams, the Flyers play an umbrella powerplay (like most NHL teams) and a diamond penalty kill.

For more on Tortorella’s systems read here.

2012-2013 Records: Flyers (11-11-1), Rangers (10-8-2)

NYR Leading Scorer: Rick Nash (5-11-16)
PHI Leading Scorer: Jakub Voracek (9-16-25)

NYR Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist (17 GP, 2.28 GAA, .919 SV%)
PHI Goaltender: Ilya Bryzgalov (21 GP, 2.61 GAA, .907 SV%)

New York Rangers Tickets

Rangers Lines:

Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Taylor Pyatt-Brian Boyle-Ryan Callahan
J.T. Miller-Jeff Halpern-Marian Gaborik
Stu Bickel-Micheal Haley-Darroll Powe

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto-Steve Eminger

Henrik Lundqvist

Probable Scratches/Injuries:  Mike Sauer (concussion), Brad Richards (Patrick Kaleta), Arron Asham (back), Matt Gilroy (healthy)

Broadcast Info: NBC Sports 730pm

John Tortorella post-practice interview from Monday:

Share: 

More About: