After the New York Rangers rookies secured a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers rookies in a shootout on Friday, the team once again took to the ice at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Saturday for their second exhibition game. The rookie matchup resulted in a tie through regulation for the second time in as many nights. In the rematch, however, the Flyers only needed 33 seconds of overtime to secure their win, defeating the Rangers 3-2.
The Rangers squad returned much of the same lineup as Friday, adding forward Maxim Barbashev, defenseman Noah Van Vliet, and utilizing the goaltending tandem of Talyn Boyko and Hugo Ollas.
The Flyers looked to combat the Rangers size by slotting in three of their larger defensemen prospects Helge Grans (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), Matteo Mann (6-5, 222), and Emile Chouinard (6-5, 205). Notably, Flyers forward and top prospect Matvei Michkov, who scored his first goal for the organization on Friday night, was not in the lineup for game two.
Saturday’s matchup featured high energy from the start as Rangers forward Brett Berard laid an early hit on Flyers top pick Jett Luchanko along the boards behind New York’s net. The hit led to a brief scrum, resulting in Luchanko ending up in a headlock and Berard with a roughing penalty. The penalty kill that ensued looked promising from the start as the Rangers created a short-handed chance. But with the Flyers power play expiring, Mann, on his first shift of the game, beat Boyko low to the blocker side to gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
The Rangers created several chances in the first period, outshooting the Flyers 14-9, but Flyers goaltender Carson Bjarnasson was solid in net, limiting rebound chances and frustrating the Rangers offense. The second period started with a similar energy, but after failing to capitalize on their scoring chances, the Rangers allowed another goal to fall behind 2-0.
Flyers forward Zayde Wisdom created an end-to-end rush for forward Sawyer Boulton, who used his speed to stay ahead of the Rangers defense and capitalize with a backhand goal.
Down 2-0, the Rangers made the most of a power-play opportunity when Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald was called for slashing with just over 10 minutes left in the second. Defenseman Matthew Robertson ripped a one-timer through traffic over the glove hand of goalie Sam Hildebrandt to give the Rangers their first goal and cut the Flyers lead in half.
Later, Berard took a major penalty and game misconduct for spearing, resulting in the Flyers finishing the second period on the man advantage. But it was the Rangers who scored, when forward Adam Edstrom netted a short-handed goal to tie the game 2-2. The Rangers dominated the offense and limited the Flyers to five shots in the second period.
The third period saw a flurry of scoring chances, and both goaltenders faced tests but kept the score tied as the teams headed to overtime once again. The Flyers immediately capitalized when Luchanko used his speed to outskate Robertson and Ryder Korczak, creating an opportunity for Andrae to get the puck to forward Samu Tuomaala for the game-winning goal.
The Rangers rookies are off the next two days, then will practice Tuesday before the start of training camp later next week.
3 takeaways from Rangers vs. Flyers rookie game 2
Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Rangers 3-2 overtime loss against the Flyers on Saturday.
Victor Mancini is a strong playmaker on blue line
Victor Mancini – Photo courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack
Rangers defenseman prospect Victor Mancini was the standout in this game, generating offensive chances all night. If Mancini was playing on tired legs after also participating the game Friday, it didn’t show. The 22-year-old seemed to be everywhere on the ice at once. From getting into battles along the boards to maintaining puck possession to creating slick passes off the blue line for his teammates, Mancini was a standout Saturday night.
Mancini entered camp knowing the Rangers had high expectations for him, given his success late last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack after he finished his collegiate career at University of Nebraska-Omaha. He clearly wants to keep the good impression going, showing that he has physicality, speed, and skill that can move him through the rankings.
Mancini and his defensive partner Robertson generated multiple chances in the first period Saturday, but couldn’t break through against Bjarnasson’s strong play in net for the Flyers. The pair didn’t let Bjarnasson’s skill deter them from trying to set up their teammates, Brennan Othmann and Berard, with slick passes from the blue line.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenseman showed his tenacity and ability to stick with plays, including a moment when he was pulled to the ice by a Flyers player and generated a shot attempt as soon as he got back up to his feet. Mancini was close to getting the game-winner for the Rangers when his wrist shot hit the post in the third period and shut down a Flyers breakaway within the final moments of regulation to help send the game into overtime.
A soli all-around showing for Mancini.
Rangers youth have a stick-to-itiveness
Adam Sykora – Photo courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack
Both Friday and Saturday’s games showcased a back-and-forth between two competitive teams. The Rangers came into the second period of Saturday’s game down 1-0. The second started with a burst of energy for the Rangers, when they created some chances in front of the Flyers net. When the Flyers scored again, the Blueshirts once again responded, this time with physical play from the defense and forwards like Berard and Edstrom. The Rangers then took advantage of the power play to put themselves back in the game.
Berard was ejected when he received a major and misconduct for spearing. His penalty came in response to an unpenalized slash which left Adam Sykora in a heap on the ice. There’s little doubt Rangers brass took note of the 5-foot=9 forward stepping in for his fallen teammate.
That Edstrom scored when the Rangers were killing off Berard’s penalty was equally as encouraging. That stick-to-itiveness by the Rangers rookies stood out Saturday.
Both Boyko and Ollas demonstrated a calm net presence, taking each play in stride and attempting to place themselves in the best position to prevent rebound chances. They combined to make 23 saves. The Rangers refused to give up in any area and continued to make themselves competitive, a trait that is encouraging to see from the group as a whole. Realistically, the majority of these players won’t make the Rangers roster within this season or even the next, but these rookies came out with heart and fought to stay in the game to show the Rangers organization what they’re made of.
Adam Edstrom shows versatility in scoring chances
Edstrom noted that he worked on his offense during the offseason, and that’s been on display since the Rangers forward scored three goals over the two exhibition games this weekend. On Friday, Edstrom make use of second chances to score a power-play goal after he connected on a rebound of an Othmann shot and to score an even-strength tally after another rebound.
On Saturday, it was the short-handed goal, Edstrom’s size, physicality, and skating skills have been noticed by the Rangers and those who have observed his play, but the offensive ability left a bit to be desired. As a potential bottom-six forward, no one’s asking or expecting Edstrom to be in the running for the Rocket Richard Trophy, but the Rangers do need more offense from the third and fourth lines than what they received in 2023-24.
By putting his name on the stat line for both of the rookie exhibition games, Edstrom is placing himself in serious contention for a spot on the Rangers roster. He’s shown that he’s not taking the opportunity he has for granted, and he’s put in the work to grow his game.
Buckle up for a great competition in training camp between Edstrom, Matt Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski for the final two forward spots on the roster.
