1. KEEP STREAKING, KEEP CLIMBING
The Flyers have won five of their last six games and have even earned points in seven straight, going 5-0-2 in that stretch... Since the New Year began, the Flyers have the third-most wins in the NHL (13) and third-most points (28) by posting a 13-5-2 record... Five of the last seven games have been decided past regulation and the Flyers have also played 18 games past regulation, which is tied for the lead among all NHL teams (Arizona)... The Flyers have more wins on the road (15) than they do on home ice (14)... Their 15 road victories are the most of any Metropolitan Division team.
2. BROADWAY BLUES
The Rangers come into today's game having dropped to last place in the Metropolitan Division... They have lost three straight and been outscored 12-5 in the process... They have also dropped seven of their last nine games and have scored three or more goals in just three of those nine contests... They return to MSG after a four-game road trip and have earned at least one point in 17 of their last 23 home games, dating back to Oct. 26, posting a 16-6-1 record.
3. SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY
The Flyers take on the Rangers in a Sunday matinee on NBC... It is the 11th daytime start for the Flyers, who have lost just one game in regulation in afternoon puck drops, going 6-1-3... The Flyers are also playing their fourth Sunday game of the season, they are a perfect 3-0-0 when playing on Sundays, outscoring their opponent, 10-3... Dating back to last season, the Flyers have earned points in 14 of 16 games on Sundays, going 11-2-3.
4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER
THIS:The Flyers own the second-best power play on the road in the NHL, operating at 24 percent... They have also gone perfect on the penalty kill in each of their last four games (6-for-6)... THAT: The Rangers have won seven of their last eight meetings against the Flyers, going 7-1-1, while goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has helped the Rangers earn at least one point in 10 of his last 11 appearances against the Flyers, going 9-1-1 with a 1.79 GAA and .941 save percentage... THE OTHER: Today's game marks the 50th anniversary of the first game the Rangers played at the current Madison Square Garden (Feb. 18, 1968) when they also faced the Flyers, earning a 3-1 win.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (RW: #17 - Wayne Simmonds)
Simmonds has points in six of his last nine games and leads the Flyers with 10 power-play goals this season... Simmonds last four goals have come on the road and he leads the Flyers with 13 road goals this season... Against the Rangers, he has 12 goals and 21 points in his career, including five points (3g-2a) in his last five games played at Madison Square Garden.
RANGERS (RW: #40 - Michael Grabner)
Leads the Rangers with 25 goals, which is the second straight year he has produced 25 or more goals... Grabner is one of three NHL players who have recorded at least 50 goals and a plus-30 rating since the start of last season (McDavid and Marchand)... More recently, he has recorded points in four of his last five contests (4g-1a), and has also tallied the same (4g-1a) in his last six games against the Flyers.