NEW YORK -- Moments after the New York Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Second Round with a 2-1, Game 7 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, they weren't taking too much time to celebrate. They were instead preparing to meet the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fresh off their third game in four days, New York's coaching staff was already putting together the game plan for their Metropolitan Division rival.

"We're going to prepare that tonight," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "We're battle-tested and we're ready for the next series."

The Penguins finished the season first in the division, 13 points ahead of the second-place Rangers. New York and Pittsburgh split four regular-season games, with each team winning once in the shootout and the Rangers holding a 13-12 advantage in goals scored.

NEW YORK -- Forward Daniel Carcillo will return to the New York Rangers lineup for Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Carcillo was a healthy scratch in the first two games of the series before playing in Games 3 and 4. J.T. Miller replaced Carcillo for the past two games but will sit out Game 7.

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers have plenty of big-game experience to draw on heading into Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, RDS, TSN2, MSG, CSN-PHI).

If their recent success in winner-take-all games has taught the Rangers anything, it's that experience won't necessarily matter.

"You've just got to go out and play. You can't overthink, you can't overanalyze," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "They know us well, we know them well. They're going to go out and play, we're going to go out and play."

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jason Akeson and New York Rangers defenseman John Moore only played one season together with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, but it was a successful one that proved crucial in the development of each player.

Four years later, the former teammates are playing in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With the Rangers leading their best-of-7 series 3-2, any fond memories between the two have been put on hold heading into Game 6 on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, RDS, MSG, CSN-PH).

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault wouldn't reveal his lineup for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday at Wells Fargo Center.

But every indication is that forward Daniel Carcillo will remain in the lineup and continue to add fuel to an already fiery matchup.

After being a healthy scratch for the first two games, Carcillo made an impact against his former team in Game 3 on Tuesday. Skating on a line with Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin, he played his signature physical style and took two penalties before scoring the final goal in a 4-1 win that allowed New York to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Carcillo was excited about the goal but was more concerned about the two penalties, especially considering the Rangers have preached discipline throughout the series.

"I know my role. I said it when I got here. No matter where I am in the lineup, to be an energy guy, a role guy, be physical, wear the other team down," Carcillo said after practice Thursday. "I just have to be smarter going forward with the stuff after the whistle. We addressed that today."

After blowing an early two-goal lead in the previous game, the New York Rangers made some defensive adjustments Tuesday to claim a 4-1 win in Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers and take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round series.

That ability to adapt has the Rangers feeling confident heading into Game 4 on Friday at Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET; CNBC, TSN, MSG, RDS).

As the Rangers did in Game 2 on Sunday, they took a 2-0 lead Tuesday before the Flyers scored a late first-period goal. Unlike Game 2, in which New York surrendered three more goals in a 4-2 loss, the Rangers defense answered when called upon.

"Last night, we had to make a lot of great defensive plays, whether it be the blocked shots or getting numbers back so we could be able to get the puck out of our end," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said in a conference call Wednesday. "Philly had a strong game, they came at us with pushes and good looks. But compared to other games that we have played this year, in last night's game we had to make a lot of great defensive plays. That's part of hockey and we found a way to win."

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers were able to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Philadelphia Flyers with a penalty kill followed by two power-play goals 47 seconds apart.

Heading into Game 2 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden (noon ET; NBC, TSN, RDS), the Rangers know that continuing that success on special teams would likely swing the best-of-7 series in their favor.

Following a successful kill of Ryan McDonagh's high-sticking penalty early in the third period, New York scored twice after Philadelphia forward Jason Akeson was assessed a four-minute penalty for a high stick. The sequence decided the 4-1 win.

"You look at all the series right now, power play and penalty killing are always big deciders of momentum during the game," New York coach Alain Vigneault said after practice Saturday. "The last game, our penalty kill gave us that big kill at the beginning of the third against a really good power play and then our power play was able to get us those two quick goals."

NEW YORK -- Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason will not play in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the New York Rangers on Sunday at Madison Square Garden (noon ET; NBC, TSN, RDS).

Mason participated in a full practice Saturday but hunched over repeatedly near the end of the skate and appeared to be experiencing some discomfort.

"For the most part, I felt pretty solid. I'm getting better every day but I won't be playing tomorrow," Mason said. "With the last 10 minutes in practice, what's bothering me wasn't feeling very good. We decided we need to give it more time before I get back in there."

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- By the time some New York Rangers assembled for an optional skate Friday, they had already forgotten about their 4-1 win Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Rangers are looking ahead to Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round series, which they'll host Sunday at Madison Square Garden (noon ET; NBC, TSN, RDS).

"It's a good first step. It's only one step," coach Alain Vigneault said. "We know that our opponent on Sunday morning is going to be ready. We're going to need to be prepared and we're going to need to be better. We're very aware of that."

NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia Flyers have lived up to their billing as the Broad Street Bullies for decades. As the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, what exactly is the identity of the New York Rangers, who the Flyers meet Thursday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round (7 p.m. ET; CNBC, TSN, RDS, CSN-PH, MSG) at Madison Square Garden?

Alain Vigneault has reshaped that identity since replacing John Tortorella as coach last summer, turning the Rangers into a team reliant on depth and chemistry at every position. That refusal to alter his lines and insistence on rolling four forward combinations and six defensemen keyed New York's run to the postseason and could be the difference against Philadelphia.

"That was the game plan in an Olympic year with having the Olympians go and the tightened schedule, especially down the stretch in March," forward Brad Richards said. "There was a reason why we were able to play good hockey, and I think that everybody was spread out and had responsibilities and we weren't [running] on fumes coming in."