The Rangers came into Philly needing to continue winning to really secure themselves a playoff spot, and did the exact opposite. They laid the proverbial egg, and adding insult to injury, lost Brian Boyle to a leg injury. The Islanders, Caps, Sens, and Jets all won their games, which means the Rangers are now on the outside looking in for the playoffs. I still believe they will hold on for a spot, as they have a game in hand on Winnipeg, but this road just got a lot tougher.

No pictures tonight with the breakdown, sorry folks.

Flyers 1, Rangers 0

On the Flyers rush, Luke Schenn was Mats Zuccarello’s man, but Zucc left him to attempt to block the shot from Brandon Manning. The puck got deflected and took a few bad bounces right to Schenn’s stick, who beat an out of position Henrik Lundqvist. The goal itself is the result of a few bad bounces, but if Zuccarello stays with his man, then Schenn never gets that shot off.

Flyers 2, Rangers 0

Rick Nash blew a tire at the Flyers blue line, and that led to an odd-man rush for the bad guys in orange. Erik Gustafsson took a shot from the top of the circle that beat Hank through the legs. Odd man rush or not, this is one that Hank wants back, as he looked to have a clear view of the shot with no tips or screens.

Rangers 1, Flyers 2

The Rangers caught the Flyers in a partial change, and John Moore hit an open Zuccarello at the blue line. Zucc, recognizing it was one-on-two, skated in with the limited room and fired a perfect shot past Steve Mason. This was a perfect shot, as he used the defensemen as a screen off the rush. It takes skill to pull that off.

Flyers 3, Rangers 1

The Rangers lost a face off in their own zone, and Ryan Callahan couldn’t get out to Kimmo Timmonen in time to block the shot. This was a set play, and I believe it was Jakub Voracek who blocked Cally’s path to Timmo. This was a blast of a shot that rang in off the post. Hockey happens sometimes.

Rangers 2, Flyers 3

The announcers said this was a broken play, but this was the result of puck pressure creating good bounces. Cally and Derick Brassard created some good pressure using their patented 2-1-2 forecheck, which led to a few failed clearing attempts and a bounce to Cally in front of the net. His shot was blocked, but the puck went right to Derek Stepan, who wristed it through Mason for the goal.

Flyers 4, Rangers 2

Empty net.

In the end, Steve Mason probably stole this game for the Flyers, as he made several great saves that either preserved a lead or kept the game scoreless. I can count about two or three where, if Mason was his usual self, then we are looking at a whole different game. But it wasn’t a different game, and the Rangers are now in ninth place with that game in hand on Winnipeg. At this point, they need to keep pace with the Jets, and get one point in that extra game.

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