After splitting their season series two games apiece the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers clash in the opening round of the NHL playoffs, with Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
Home ice advantage could be the key to this series, as the home team won all four matchups between the Rangers and Flyers this season. It could be especially big for New York, who enter the series riding an eight-game winning streak at home versus Philly.
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New York boasts a nice mix of veteran forwards and youth, led by past Cup winners Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis and sniper Rick Nash. On the blue line the Rangers really need Ryan McDonagh to return healthy after he missed the end of the season due to a shoulder injury.
The Flyers have one of the deepest group of forwards in the NHL, but thanks to a slow start to the season they’re near the middle of the pack in goals scored. With the likes of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Scott Hartnell and Vincent Lecavalier up front they have the firepower to pepper Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist with plenty of rubber. The question is can their goalie Steve Mason match him?
The Bodog oddsmakers have listed both the Flyers and the Ranger at 20/1 to win the Stanley Cup.