New York @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 29, 2019 ) Philadelphia 1, NY Rangers 0

The Philadelphia Flyers can complete a season sweep of the visiting New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon, but their motivational level will be in question after they were officially elimination from postseason contention on Saturday. Philadelphia has won six in a row over New York and allowed two goals in taking all three meetings this season.

The Flyers kept their faint playoff hopes alive with Wednesday's 5-4 shootout victory over Toronto but absorbed the knockout blow in Saturday's 5-2 setback at Carolina. It was the sixth defeat in nine games for Philadelphia, following an 18-4-2 surge that had propelled the team into contention. The Rangers were stumbling to the finish line with 13 losses in 15 games before roaring back from a two-goal deficit to knock off playoff-bound St. Louis 4-2 on Friday night. “Every September there’s a whole new ball of optimism, but it is always important to compete and do things the right way," New York defenseman Marc Staal told reporters. “People may not realize it, but the seeds for next season are being planted now.”

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, NBC

ABOUT THE RANGERS (30-34-13): New York went more than a month without scoring more than three goals in back-to-back games and among the culprits was forward Jimmy Vesey, who ended a 13-game dry spell by delivering the tiebreaking tally in Friday's victory. "I think it was big mentally, I've been in a little bit of a drought," Vesey told reporters. "End of the year, you want to end on a high note and I think that goes for individually and as a team." Pavel Buchnevich has scored seven times in 13 contests and is riding a six-game point streak.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (37-33-8): Following Saturday's loss, coach Scott Gordon pointed to the slew of injuries at the most important position, forcing Philadelphia to use a league-record eight goaltenders this season. “When you look at most of the teams that are in the playoffs, it’s two or three goalies, max,” Gordon told reporters. “How many points were lost because of that being unsettled? The points that get lost ... is the difference of not being in the playoffs." Rookie netminder Carter Hart, who sparked the midseason surge, has yet to face New York.

OVERTIME

1. Flyers captain Claude Giroux netted his 235th career goal, moving into a tie with Rod Brind’Amour for 10th on the team's all-time list.

2. Rangers F Chris Kreider scored for the first time in 12 games Friday to move within one of his career high of 28 goals.

3. Flyers F James van Riemsdyk has nine points in as many games after collecting two assists Saturday.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Flyers 3