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Flyers host Rangers in Monday's Winter Classic
NEW YORK RANGERS (23-9-4, 50 points)
at PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (22-10-4, 48 points)
Winter Classic
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Puck drops: Monday, 3:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Philadelphia -135, New York +115, Total: 5.5
The most anticipated regular season hockey game of the year has finally arrived as the Rangers take on the Flyers at Citizens Bank Park in Philly on Monday afternoon for the fifth-annual Winter Classic.
The NHL couldn’t have asked for a better matchup for this season’s outdoor spectacle, with the Rangers and Flyers separated by just two points atop the Atlantic Division standings. This will be the second Winter Classic appearance for the Flyers, who lost to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime in 2010 at Fenway Park, and are the only road team to lose in the event, with Buffalo, Chicago and Pittsburgh each losing on “home” ice. New York was victorious in the only two matchups with Philly this season—both at Madison Square Garden—winning 2-0 in November and 4-2 last week. G Henrik Lundqvist (16-7-4, 1.91 GAA, .937 SV Pct.) has turned aside a combined 57 of 59 shots against the Flyers this year and has won four in a row—allowing two goals or less in six of his past seven starts. In a bit of a surprise move, the Flyers will start backup netminder Sergei Bobrovsky (8-2-1, 2.52 GAA, .914 SV Pct.) after backstopping Philly to a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday. Weather is always a big factor in this game—which has gone Under the total every year except in 2009 (Red Wings beat Blackhawks 6-4). With 20 mph winds in the forecast for Philadelphia, the UNDER (-150) is the best thing to take in what will surely be an otherwise unpredictable game.
This highly-rated FoxSheets trend also favors the Under:
N.Y. RANGERS are 12-2 UNDER (85.7%, +10.2 Units) in road games against good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.3+ goals/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was N.Y. RANGERS 1.9, OPPONENT 2.4 - (Rating = 3*).
The Rangers used a terrific 10-4-1 record in the month of December to jump to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and have won six of their past seven games. RW Marian Gaborik (22 G, 11 A) leads all scorers, along with linemate C Brad Richards (13 G, 15 A) and team captain RW Ryan Callahan (13 G, 15 A).
New York’s defense is among the stingiest in the league, allowing an average of just 2.1 goals per game (2nd in NHL). This mark is even more impressive because the Blueshirts have been without top defender Marc Staal (concussion) all season. Lundqvist also has a lot to do with it: the Swedish goaltender has allowed three goals or less in all but five games this season.
The Flyers offense has been stellar all season long, averaging 3.4 goals per game (2nd in NHL). C Claude Giroux (17 G, 28 A) ranks second in the NHL in points, and pivots the most lethal line in hockey with wingers Scott Hartnell (17 G, 17 A) and Jaromir Jagr (12 G, 19 A).
Interestingly, RW Max Talbot will play in his third Winter Classic—the most of any player in the NHL. Talbot played in the inaugural game in 2008, as well as last year’s contest, as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
NEW YORK RANGERS (23-9-4, 50 points)
at PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (22-10-4, 48 points)
Winter Classic
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Puck drops: Monday, 3:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Philadelphia -135, New York +115, Total: 5.5
The most anticipated regular season hockey game of the year has finally arrived as the Rangers take on the Flyers at Citizens Bank Park in Philly on Monday afternoon for the fifth-annual Winter Classic.
The NHL couldn’t have asked for a better matchup for this season’s outdoor spectacle, with the Rangers and Flyers separated by just two points atop the Atlantic Division standings. This will be the second Winter Classic appearance for the Flyers, who lost to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime in 2010 at Fenway Park, and are the only road team to lose in the event, with Buffalo, Chicago and Pittsburgh each losing on “home” ice. New York was victorious in the only two matchups with Philly this season—both at Madison Square Garden—winning 2-0 in November and 4-2 last week. G Henrik Lundqvist (16-7-4, 1.91 GAA, .937 SV Pct.) has turned aside a combined 57 of 59 shots against the Flyers this year and has won four in a row—allowing two goals or less in six of his past seven starts. In a bit of a surprise move, the Flyers will start backup netminder Sergei Bobrovsky (8-2-1, 2.52 GAA, .914 SV Pct.) after backstopping Philly to a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday. Weather is always a big factor in this game—which has gone Under the total every year except in 2009 (Red Wings beat Blackhawks 6-4). With 20 mph winds in the forecast for Philadelphia, the UNDER (-150) is the best thing to take in what will surely be an otherwise unpredictable game.
This highly-rated FoxSheets trend also favors the Under:
N.Y. RANGERS are 12-2 UNDER (85.7%, +10.2 Units) in road games against good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.3+ goals/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was N.Y. RANGERS 1.9, OPPONENT 2.4 - (Rating = 3*).
The Rangers used a terrific 10-4-1 record in the month of December to jump to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and have won six of their past seven games. RW Marian Gaborik (22 G, 11 A) leads all scorers, along with linemate C Brad Richards (13 G, 15 A) and team captain RW Ryan Callahan (13 G, 15 A).
New York’s defense is among the stingiest in the league, allowing an average of just 2.1 goals per game (2nd in NHL). This mark is even more impressive because the Blueshirts have been without top defender Marc Staal (concussion) all season. Lundqvist also has a lot to do with it: the Swedish goaltender has allowed three goals or less in all but five games this season.
The Flyers offense has been stellar all season long, averaging 3.4 goals per game (2nd in NHL). C Claude Giroux (17 G, 28 A) ranks second in the NHL in points, and pivots the most lethal line in hockey with wingers Scott Hartnell (17 G, 17 A) and Jaromir Jagr (12 G, 19 A).
Interestingly, RW Max Talbot will play in his third Winter Classic—the most of any player in the NHL. Talbot played in the inaugural game in 2008, as well as last year’s contest, as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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