The Rangers get one more shot at home before the schedule turns into a road trip, and the timing could hardly be cleaner. Philadelphia comes into Madison Square Garden on Thursday with the kind of start that leaves little margin for error, while New York is trying to build off a much-needed win and keep its home form rolling.
New York snapped its season-worst four-game skid on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues, and that result mattered for more than just the standings.
The Rangers had dropped their previous two at MSG, but they’ve still been strong on home ice overall, sitting at 7-2-0 there this season. That gives them a share of the league lead in home wins and home points with 14.
The lineup is expected to stay the same after the Blues game. Will Cuylle remains at center on the third line, while Jaroslav Chmelar, Noah Laba and Matt Rempe stay together on the fourth.
Dylan Garand gets the net again after turning aside a season-high 32 shots against St. Louis.
It will be his 12th straight appearance, with 10 starts and two relief outings in that stretch.
On defense, Sean Durzi is out for a third straight game because of an undisclosed injury, so Scott Morrow stays in the mix.
Thursday’s game also brings the first look at the Rangers’ Hometown Remix jerseys, the first of five times they’ll wear them this season.
The opponent is struggling badly. Philadelphia enters at 4-9-4 and is tied for last in the Eastern Conference with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers have been even worse away from home, going 1-5-1 on the road. Offensively, they’ve had trouble generating much at all, averaging a league-low 2.18 goals per game.
Defensively, they’ve allowed 3.35 goals per game, which ranks 21st in the NHL, and they’ve been outscored in every period, including overtime by a 3-0 margin.
The recent history between these teams tilts heavily toward New York. The Rangers are 13-3-2 in the last 18 meetings with Philadelphia, including a 3-0-1 mark last season. That came in a year when the Rangers finished last in the conference and the Flyers made the playoffs, then won a round for the first time since 2020.
Joseph Woll gets the start in goal for Philadelphia. He’s 1-5-2 with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Pavel Dorofeyev - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
Tye Kartye - J.T. Miller - Gabe Perreault
Eeli Tolvanen - Will Cuylle - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jaroslav Chmelar - Noah Laba - Matt Rempe
Valdislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
Marcus Pettersson - Braden Schneider
Alberts Smits - Scott Morrow
Dylan Garand
James Reimer
Rangers vs. Flyers: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
When: Thursday, November 5 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
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