Ok, here it is, finally... Rangers vs. Flyers in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic. After all the hype, predictions, 24/7 episodes and two Ranger ass kickings against the Flyers, the two teams take the ice at 3 pm this afternoon for what should be an unforgettable game. For the Flyers, who sounded like a team in somewhat of a disarray on Sunday with Bryzgalov telling reporters that he wasn't starting, followed by Flyers coach Pete Laviolette during a press conference that he hasn't decided who is going to get the call for the Flyers come 3 pm Monday. (We later learned Sunday night that Bobrovsky will get the call against the Rangers.) During the Rangers portion of practice at Citizens Bank Park, NHL network reporter and former Flyer Jeremy Roenick said (and I'm paraphrasing) the difference in attitude between the clubs was noticeable and the Rangers were the more looser club, while the Flyers were a little more tense and perhaps distracted with their goalie situation. The Rangers are coming into this game first in the conference and ahead of the Flyers by two points in the Atlantic. This Ranger team is far and away the best team that we've seen in quite a long time and in all likelihood one player away from being a serious Cup contender. But as long as Lundqvist is able to keep pucks out of his net and the defense in front of him is able to shutdown the other teams' number one scorer on a nightly basis like they have been doing for the most part, you just never know what can happen.
Keys for the Rangers tomorrow:
1. Do not let up the early goal- The Flyers will probably come out on fire in front of their home fans who have only seen the Flyers play twice since December 10th. As long as the Rangers stay defensively sound and weather the early storm they'll be just fine. An early Ranger goal against a young (and perhaps nervous) Bobrovsky would be huge.
2. New Year, New Power Play: December was practically spilt right down the middle in terms of Rangers power play success. 6/28 in the first half, 2/23 in the second half. The Rangers must turn that number around not just starting today but moving on through the second half of the season.
3. Have fun: This is the last thing I'm worried about with the Rangers especially if you were watching practice yesterday. With the Rangers loose and Torts unable to not smile skating around the ice yesterday, I can see good things happening for the Rangers today.
Prediction: Rangers 4 - Flyers 2
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