Rangers Clinch Playoff Berth with Victory Over the Flyers

With three weeks left in the NHL regular season, the playoff race is heating up as teams are battling it out to secure a coveted spot in this season’s postseason. Entering Tuesday night’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers had the opportunity to become the first team to clinch a spot in the 2024 postseason with a victory over the Flyers in any fashion. The fierce division rivals would put on a high-scoring affair as the Rangers would pull out the thrilling 6-5 overtime victory to clinch their third-consecutive playoff spot and reach the 100-point mark this season. The Rangers’ victory over the Flyers improves their record to 48-20-4 for 100 points and New York remains in first place in the Metropolitan Division with ten games left. With the loss, the Flyers dropped to 36-27-10 for 82 points and hold a one-point cushion over the surging Washington Capitals for third place in the division. 

Following a scoreless first period, the Flyers would manage to break the scoreless tie in the second period on a Scott Laughton wrist-shot goal to give his squad a 1-0 lead. Mid-way through the period, the Flyers would capitalize on a Rangers’ tripping penalty to extend their lead to 2-0 on a Ryan Poehling tip-in power play goal. Prior to the intermission, the Rangers would cut their deficit to 2-1 after Mika Zibanejad would score on a snap-shot power play goal. In the third period, at 1:23, the Rangers would even the score up at 2-2 after Jonny Brodzinski banked in a wrist-shot goal for his sixth goal of the season. A minute later, winger Alexis Lafrenière would give the Rangers their first lead of the night on an unassisted backhand goal. At 6:45, Travis Konecny would tie the game up at 3-3 for the Flyers after scoring on an unassisted wrist-shot goal. Despite being on the penalty kill, the Rangers would retake a 4-3 lead after Vincent Trocheck scored his 25th goal of the season on a tip-in shot. 

With eight minutes left in regulation, Flyers’ winger Owen Tippett would even it at 4-4 after receiving a pass from Morgan Frost and scoring on a backhand shot. At 13:59, Lafreniere scored his second goal of the game from the left circle to make it 5-4 Rangers. However, four minutes later, Tyson Foerster located the puck in front of the goal line and shoveled it to level the game at 5-5 for the Flyers and send the game to overtime. In the 3-on-3 overtime period. Adam Fox would score 36 seconds into the frame to give the Rangers their third straight win and eighth in their previous ten games. In the win, goalie Igor Shesterkin would have himself a busy night for the Rangers as he saved 36 shots on 41 attempts and nabbed his 30th victory this season. The Rangers will look to keep the good mojo going as they travel to face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.