When the Flyers host the New York Rangers on Thursday night, there won't be as much drama as the teams produced in their final regular-season game of 2009-10.
That was the game the Flyers won in a nerve-racking shoot-out to sneak into the playoffs - and keep the Rangers from earning a postseason berth.
Before too long, the Flyers went from classic underachievers to underdog darlings as they overcame long odds - including a series deficit of three games to none against Boston - and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Thursday's game will match teams that are playing well. The Flyers (7-4-1) have won four straight to climb to the top of the Atlantic Division. The Rangers (6-4-1) have won two in a row, including a 3-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, and have posted a 4-1 road record to move to within two points of first place.
"There's going to be a lot of emotion and energy, and both teams will be prepared to play," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said.
The Flyers won last season's riveting shoot-out, 2-1, thanks to a go-ahead goal by Claude Giroux and a game-clinching save by Brian Boucher.
The Rangers kept dumping the puck out in overtime, figuring that if the game went into a shoot-out, they would have an advantage because of standout goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
"You're carrying 82 games down to that final game and into a shoot-out where anything can happen," Laviolette said. "There was just a lot of pressure. When you are able to win that game and move on, you can leave that pressure behind. I really felt we were entering the playoffs on a clean slate."
Laviolette would not name his starting goaltender for Thursday, but all signs point to the sizzling Sergei Bobrovsky, the unflappable rookie who is 4-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .934 save percentage during the last four games.
"Bob has been good from day one," Laviolette said. "I don't know if he is doing anything better now, but I am sure he is getting more comfortable. Jeff [Reese, the goalie coach,] has been working with him on a couple of areas that we would like to improve, but his game has been consistent from the time that he got here."
The Flyers expect to face Lundqvist, who has a 2.67 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He was struck in the neck by a slapshot during Wednesday's practice but said he should play Thursday. Former Flyer Marty Biron is his backup.
The Flyers' special teams have excelled lately. In the last three games, they have killed all 15 power plays. During their four-game winning streak, they are a sizzling 7 for 23 (30.4 percent) on their own power play. New York's penalty kill is one of the league's weakest, with a 77.1 percent success rate that ranks 26th in the 30-team league.
Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros should return to the lineup after missing a game because of a slight concussion, general manager Paul Holmgren said. Winger Andreas Nodl is doubtful because of a shoulder injury, and recently promoted winger Eric Wellwood - who had a team-high six shots Monday in a strong debut against Carolina - is expected to stay in the lineup.
Breakaways. Danny Briere will sit out the second game of his three-game suspension. . . . The Rangers are without high-scoring winger Marian Gaborik (separated shoulder), but right winger Ryan Callahan (four goals, 13 points) has stepped up his offense. .
That was the game the Flyers won in a nerve-racking shoot-out to sneak into the playoffs - and keep the Rangers from earning a postseason berth.
Before too long, the Flyers went from classic underachievers to underdog darlings as they overcame long odds - including a series deficit of three games to none against Boston - and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Thursday's game will match teams that are playing well. The Flyers (7-4-1) have won four straight to climb to the top of the Atlantic Division. The Rangers (6-4-1) have won two in a row, including a 3-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, and have posted a 4-1 road record to move to within two points of first place.
"There's going to be a lot of emotion and energy, and both teams will be prepared to play," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said.
The Flyers won last season's riveting shoot-out, 2-1, thanks to a go-ahead goal by Claude Giroux and a game-clinching save by Brian Boucher.
The Rangers kept dumping the puck out in overtime, figuring that if the game went into a shoot-out, they would have an advantage because of standout goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
"You're carrying 82 games down to that final game and into a shoot-out where anything can happen," Laviolette said. "There was just a lot of pressure. When you are able to win that game and move on, you can leave that pressure behind. I really felt we were entering the playoffs on a clean slate."
Laviolette would not name his starting goaltender for Thursday, but all signs point to the sizzling Sergei Bobrovsky, the unflappable rookie who is 4-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .934 save percentage during the last four games.
"Bob has been good from day one," Laviolette said. "I don't know if he is doing anything better now, but I am sure he is getting more comfortable. Jeff [Reese, the goalie coach,] has been working with him on a couple of areas that we would like to improve, but his game has been consistent from the time that he got here."
The Flyers expect to face Lundqvist, who has a 2.67 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He was struck in the neck by a slapshot during Wednesday's practice but said he should play Thursday. Former Flyer Marty Biron is his backup.
The Flyers' special teams have excelled lately. In the last three games, they have killed all 15 power plays. During their four-game winning streak, they are a sizzling 7 for 23 (30.4 percent) on their own power play. New York's penalty kill is one of the league's weakest, with a 77.1 percent success rate that ranks 26th in the 30-team league.
Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros should return to the lineup after missing a game because of a slight concussion, general manager Paul Holmgren said. Winger Andreas Nodl is doubtful because of a shoulder injury, and recently promoted winger Eric Wellwood - who had a team-high six shots Monday in a strong debut against Carolina - is expected to stay in the lineup.
Breakaways. Danny Briere will sit out the second game of his three-game suspension. . . . The Rangers are without high-scoring winger Marian Gaborik (separated shoulder), but right winger Ryan Callahan (four goals, 13 points) has stepped up his offense. .
