Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Who would have thought that by Thanksgiving, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers would be neighbouring each other in the division standings, separated by just two points? If the Flyers clinch a victory in their upcoming encounter, they could catch the New York Rangers or even leap into the playoff zone.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are determined to scrape points together, showcasing their fighting spirit. The team have lost just 2 of their last 10 matches in regular time, and emerged victorious in 6 of them. Their tally could be even higher if the Flyers hadn't squandered a two-goal lead against the Vegas Golden Knights (4:5 SO). They compensate for a weak goaltending position with the dedication of their field players. For instance, against the Nashville Predators last night (3:2 OT), their defenders blocked 32 shots, with Rasmus Ristolainen alone accounting for eight.
New York Rangers
Such passion and commitment seem to be lacking for the Rangers. Their head coach, Peter Laviolette, acknowledges this, expressing during a press conference that improvement is needed across the board. The Rangers have suffered four consecutive defeats, allowing 40 or more shots on target in three out of those four games. Their power play has also faltered, with the Rangers' special teams failing to score over the past six matches, going 0 for 10 in that stretch. The injury to Chris Kreider only adds to their woes.
Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Rangers Prediction
The New York Rangers serve as the perfect provocation for the Philadelphia Flyers. During this period of vulnerability for their fierce rivals, the Flyers should capitalise and at the very least avoid a loss in regular time. The Rangers are clearly not in the form required to comfortably handle tenacious opponents on class alone.
