New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers: Black Friday NHL Showdown Preview and Predictions

The New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers are set to face off in a Metropolitan Division matchup on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. This Black Friday matinee game is the first of three meetings between the two teams this season.

The Rangers, currently fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 12-8-1 record, are on a four-game losing streak. Their latest loss was a 4-3 road defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Despite their recent struggles, the Rangers have been strong on the road, holding a 7-4-0 record away from home. Key players like Artemi Panarin, who leads the team with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists), and Adam Fox, who has recorded at least one assist in each of his last four road games, will be crucial in this matchup.

The Philadelphia Flyers, with a 10-10-3 record and fifth in the division, are coming off an improbable 3-2 overtime win against the Nashville Predators. Sean Couturier, who has scored a goal in each of the Flyers’ last three games, and Travis Konecny, leading the team with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists), will be key contributors for the Flyers. The team has historically struggled against the Rangers, with a 2-6-3 record in head-to-head games since the 2021-22 season, often due to lapses in puck management and structural breakdowns.

Betting odds favor the Rangers, with a -155 line against the Flyers’ +135. The over/under is set at 6.5 goals, with some predictions leaning towards an over due to recent trends of high-scoring games between these teams. However, others suggest an under, given the recent scoring struggles of both teams.

The special teams aspect will also be significant, with the Rangers boasting a strong penalty kill (87.0% success rate) and the Flyers ranking 9th in the NHL on the penalty kill (82.8% success rate). The Flyers’ power play, however, has been below average, converting at a 16.7% rate.

The game will be televised on NBCSP and broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic with an online simulcast on Flyers Radio 24/7.