NEW YORK -- During the regular season, it was Derek Stepan who was the primary facilitator when Rick Nash found the back of the net for the New York Rangers, assisting on 13 of Nash's team-leading 26 goals.
But in a sudden role reversal, Nash has become the passer and Stepan the scorer on a top line that has led New York to a 2-1 lead in its Eastern Conference First Round series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Nash leads the Rangers with four assists and Stepan is tied for the team lead with two goals entering Game 4 against the Flyers on Friday at Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET; CNBC, TSN, RDS, MSG, CSN-PH). That unlikely shift has allowed each player to move on from their respective disappointments in the postseason last year.
VOORHEES, N.J. --Philadelphia Flyers coach Craig Berube has given his defensemen the green light to jump into the play in the offensive zone any time they see the opportunity.
But for Luke Schenn, that light always has been a blinking yellow.
In the first three games of the Flyers' Eastern Conference First Round series against the New York Rangers, however, Schenn only has seen green.
Schenn scored the game-winning goal in the Flyers' 4-2 victory in Game 2, driving to the net during a delayed penalty to bang in the rebound of an Adam Hall shot. He had a team-best five shots on goal in Game 3, and his eight shots in the first three games of the series are tied with rookie forward Jason Akeson for first on the team.
Introducing the new official NHL App, available for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablets. A host of new features and improved functionality are available across all platforms, including a redesigned league-wide scoreboard, expanded news coverage, searchable video highlights, individual team experiences* and more. The new NHL App on your tablet also introduces new offerings such as 60fps video, Multitasking** and Picture-in-Picture.
*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads