Game #30

Man, how do you preview this? The Flyers come in losers of three straight and are last in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Confernce, while the Rangers have won three straight and are second in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Confernce. The injury list is growing almost daily for the Flyers. Add Mike Richards and Geoff Sanderson to the list, as they will each undergo surgery for a sports hernia sidelining them for around three to six weeks. Jeff Carter (fractured left tibia), Robert Esche (adductor muscle surgery), Denis Gauthier (shoulder surgery), Peter Forsberg (foot/ankle), and Mike Rathje (back) as the players are already out indefinitely. Day-to-day are Sami Kapanen (back spasms), Freddy Meyer (back), and Joni Pitkanen (abdominal strain). All told, that's 3297 games played sitting out indefienitely, and 946 games played that are day-to-day. That's a lot of experience sitting in the press box. Due to the injuries and recent waivings -- goodbye, Mr. Nedved -- the Flyers will now be icing one of the youngest teams -- and probably the least experienced -- in the league. As many as six rookies may dress tonight, including Ryan Potulny, Ben Eager, Alexandre Picard, Jussi Timonen, Stefan Ruzicka, and backup goaltender Martin Houle. Fellow rookie and Philadelphia native Tony Voce may also see game action. Inside the Numbers TEAM STATS   GP W L OT Pts G/G GA/G PP% PK% NYR 30 16 10 4 36 3.07 3.00 20.0% 84.6% PHI 29 8 17 4 20 2.41 3.69 14.9% 85.4% TEAM STAT LEADERS   Philadelphia   New York Pts Simon Gagne 25   Jaromir Jagr 44 G Simon Gagne 16   Brendan Shanahan 22 A Joni Pitkanen 16   Jaromir Jagr 30 +/- Todd Fedoruk +3   Jaromir Jagr +16 PIM Ben Eager 70   Ryan Hollweg 55 GWG Simon Gagne 2   Brendan Shanahan 3   Martin Straka 3 TOI/G Joni Pitkanen 25:20   Michal Rozsival 23:16 See: Game Notes See: Preview