Kakko and Georgiev lead New York Rangers over hapless Flyers
The New York Rangers took on the Philadelphia Flyers and did what was expected of them. From basically start to finish, the Blueshirts played a rock solid road game to come away with a 4-0 win.
Alexandar Georgiev was tested early as the Flyers at one point led in shots 9-2. However, Kaapo Kakko Kakko scored his first of two midway through the first period to turn it in the Rangers fair and they never looked back.
“It’s a big win and to score a goal always feels good,” Kakko said on MSG.
Alexis Lafreniere was a healthy scratch and the head coach wanted to make it clear why he did it.
“Yes (he’s healthy),” Gerard Gallant explained. “It’s a long season and the kid’s (20) years old and we wanted to try something else and give him a break. He’ll be back next game.”
Recap: Rangers 4 vs Flyers 0
Kaapo Kakko scored twice and goaltender Alexandar Georgiev recorded the shutout as the visiting New York Rangers claimed a 4-0 victory over the free-falling and injury-riddled Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp also scored, while Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow each collected a pair of assists for the Rangers (48-21-6, 102 points), who sit two points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina does have one game in hand.
Georgiev stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the season and eighth in his career.
Felix Sandstrom made 30 saves for the Flyers (23-40-11, 57 points), who have lost four of five games. It’s only the second time in franchise history the Flyers have posted 40 regulation-time losses. The other was 2006-07.
Kaapo Kakko leads the Rangers to win, Georgiev shutout
Kakko, in his third game back after missing 31 due to an upper-body injury, notched his first goal in 15 outings just past the midway point of the first period. A strong forecheck from K’Andre Miller created a turnover that eventually saw Kakko, after taking a pass in the slot, wire a glove-side shot to open the scoring.
Kakko notched his second of the game, and seventh of the season, at 8:22 of the second period when Filip Chytil won a battle along the side boards before he sent a backhanded saucer pass that set up an easy tap-in tally.
“That was a great pass,” Kakko said of Chytil’s play. “This was my best game (since coming back from injury).”
Panarin then notched his third goal in four games to make it 3-0 at 11:03 of the middle frame, completing a nifty redirect of Trouba’s shot-pass for his 22nd goal of the season.
The Flyers, who were the better team in the first five minutes of the clash in an attempt to make amends for a 9-2 shellacking at the hands of the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, were overrun the rest of the way.
Copp’s short-handed empty net goal with 1:53 remaining, his 18th tally of the season, rounded out the scoring.
“Tonight we traded chances a little too much,” Gallant said. “But overall we’re getting ready for it (playoffs) and hopefully we keep playing well down the stretch.”
Notable Rangers
- Alexandar Georgiev picked up his second shutout of the season stopping 28
- Kaapo Kakko scored two goals his first since he scored twice against the Coyotes on 12/15/21
- Barclay Goodrow set a career high in points with two assists (13G – 15A = 28 PTS)
- Jacob Trouba picked up two assists
- Andrew Copp scored to add to his Rangers total (13 points in 12 games)
Tomorrow (Thursday, April 14): Day Off
Next Game: Saturday, April 16 vs. Detroit Red Wings (12:30 PM ET – TV: MSG)
*Schedule subject to change
NHL Trade Bait Tracker
The Daily Goal Horn just released their NHL Trade Bait Tracker for the 2022 Offseason. Besides big names like Patrick Kane, J.T. Miller, and Jakob Chychrun, three Rangers are in the Top 20. Read More.
–Field Level Media contributed to this report.
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