Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Broadcast: ESPN (national), additional regional feeds (MSG for Rangers, NBC Sports Philadelphia for Flyers)
Game Context
Metropolitan Division rivalry clash with playoff implications on both sides. Philadelphia sits 6th in the Metro with 61 points, holding a wild-card spot in the East but on shaky ground after recent struggles. New York is 8th in the division with 50 points, well outside the playoff picture and in desperate need of a spark to salvage the season. The Rangers are coming off the Olympic break with major reinforcements returning; the Flyers play the second half of a back-to-back after a 3-1 loss in Washington on Feb. 25.
Recent Form
- Flyers: 1-5-1 in their last 7 games (including the 3-1 loss at Washington where Noah Cates scored their lone goal). Offense has been inconsistent (2.86 GF/GP, mid-pack), and they’ve struggled defensively on the road (3.16 GA/GP overall). Back-to-back fatigue is a factor tonight.
- Rangers: Entered the break on a four-game losing streak and have been inconsistent all season (bottom-half offense and defense at ~3.16 GF/GA per game). This is their first game post-Olympic break, but the return of key players provides a massive boost in confidence and talent.
Injury Report
Philadelphia Flyers:
- Tyson Foerster (RW) – Arm surgery (IR)
- Rodrigo Abols (C) – Fractured ankle (IR, out at least until late March)
- Other minor notes: No major new absences; lineup expected to remain stable after last night’s game.
New York Rangers (significant returns):
- Igor Shesterkin (G) – Lower body (out since Jan. 5; returning tonight)
- Adam Fox (D) – Lower body/undisclosed (out since Jan. 5; returning tonight)
- Conor Sheary (LW) – Lower body (out since Dec. 31; returning tonight)
- Matt Rempe (F) – IR (out until mid-March)
- Adam Edstrom (F) – LTIR (out)
- Mika Zibanejad (C) – Day-to-day (skated with Team Sweden at Olympics; status uncertain but likely available or monitored)
Positive notes: J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck return fresh off Olympic gold with Team USA; coach Mike Sullivan and assistant David Quinn also back.
Projected Lineups & Goalies
Flyers (Coach Rick Tocchet)
F: Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny
F: Matvei Michkov – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
F: Denver Barkey – Sean Couturier – Owen Tippett
F: Nikita Grebenkin – Carl Grundstrom – Garnet Hathaway
D: Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
D: Cam York – Jamie Drysdale
D: Nick Seeler – Noah Juulsen
G: Samuel Ersson (expected starter after limited action pre-break) / Dan Vladar
Scratches: Likely depth pieces; no major changes post-back-to-back.
Rangers (Coach Mike Sullivan)
F: J.T. Miller – Mika Zibanejad – Gabe Perreault
F: Will Cuylle – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafreniere
F: Conor Sheary – Noah Laba – Brendan Brisson
F: Brennan Othmann – Sam Carrick – Taylor Raddysh
D: Vladislav Gavrikov – Adam Fox
D: Braden Schneider – Will Borgen
D: Matthew Robertson – Vincent Iorio
G: Igor Shesterkin (expected starter; massive upgrade) / Jonathan Quick
Scratched: Likely corresponding moves for returns (e.g., three roster adjustments noted).
Key Player Matchups
- Travis Konecny / Matvei Michkov vs. Adam Fox / Rangers top pairing: Konecny is Philly’s engine; Fox’s return bolsters NYR’s shutdown and transition game.
- J.T. Miller / Vincent Trocheck lines vs. Flyers checking: Olympic momentum for Miller/Trocheck could dominate puck possession.
- Igor Shesterkin vs. Flyers offense: Shesterkin’s return is the biggest storyline — elite goaltending could stifle Philly’s attack.
- Special teams: Flyers PP (16%) vs. Rangers PK; Rangers have struggled but get Fox back for QB duties.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
New York leads the season series 2-0-0:
- Dec. 20, 2025: NYR 5-4 win (at home)
- Jan. 17, 2026: NYR 6-3 win (at PHI)
Rangers have dominated the matchups this year with high-scoring outputs. Historically, the rivalry is intense, but NYR has the edge in recent head-to-head (7-3-0 in last 10 overall).
Betting Trends
- Rangers are slight home favorites despite poor record — driven by key returns.
- Flyers have been Over specialists on the road in recent games; combined games trend toward 5.5+ goals.
- Rangers have lost 4 straight entering break; Flyers 1-5-2 in last 7 but competitive in Metro matchups.
- Home teams in Metro divisional games often cover +1.5 for visitors.
Game Odds
Philadelphia Flyers 6.5
New York Rangers -142
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
