Show of Love: Rangers defeat Flyers with a display of brotherly love.

When facing the tenacious Philadelphia Flyers in trench warfare, the New York Rangers demonstrated camaraderie. In a 3-1 victory, Mika Zibanejad scored twice.

The New York Rangers performed like a brotherhood in the City of Brotherly Love. It’s always a battle in the trenches against John Tortorella’s Philadelphia Flyers, but the defense and Igor Shesterkin held strong in a fierce 3-1 victory at Wells Fargo Center. Mika Zibanejad spearheaded the attack and scored two goals to end a nine-game drought.

The Rangers (14-3-1) will play the league-leading Boston Bruins (14-2-3) at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, so their victory won’t last long.

A Blueshirts Blitz led by Mika’s Magic Wand:

The Blueshirts had a quick start. Just forty-five seconds into the game, Chris Kreider’s breakout after a stop by Igor Shesterkin set up Blake Wheeler for a two-on-one rush with Mika Zibanejad, who finished it for a 1-0 New York lead. The top trio of Rangers, who scored all three goals, was off to a fantastic start.

Mika’s first even-strength goal of the season ended a nine-game skid with the opening score.

Then, 68 seconds later, Chris Kreider scored one after Travis Sanheim attempted a pass to the slot and was intercepted. The Flyers supporters were silenced by the two goals in 1:07. Nick Deslauriers attempted to slow down the situation by luring Rangers captain Jacob Trouba into a brawl, but he was not successful. Trouba laid out Garnet Hathaway as they were skating up the rink together. Then Hathaway gave Barclay Goodrow a drop on the mitts.

Then, when Travis Sanheim attempted a pass to the slot but was intercepted, Chris Kreider scored one 68 seconds later. The two goals in 1:07 silenced the Flyers supporters. Nick Deslauriers made an unsuccessful attempt to slow down the proceedings by enticing Rangers captain Jacob Trouba into a fight. Garnet Hathaway was being laid out by Trouba as they skated up the ice together. Then Hathaway dropped one on the mitts to Barclay Goodrow.

Konecny attempted to slip home a rebound chance on his backhand with Shesterkin down after a Blueshirts blunder resulted in a Sean Couturier chance in the slot, but Lindgren briefly became the goalie and stopped the shot. Subsequently, Lindgren hoisted the puck by Konecny, while the Flyers went on a power play due to a Wheeler penalty.

After Hathaway pushed Lindgren into the boards late in the first period, Will Cuylle immediately leaped Hathaway. Cuylle’s teammates and head coach Peter Laviolette were not upset with him despite his instigator penalty because he stuck up for his friend. Then, his teammates came through for him, killing the penalty portion of a 6-6 game.

Positionally, the Rangers’ penalty kill made sense. They blocked shots and put sticks in lanes. Shesterkin was always there to tidy up after malfunctions. In the last two games, the Blueshirts have been punished eleven times. Even though they can kill them all, this strategy won’t work against Boston on Saturday.

The Blueshirts were able to maintain their concentration on netting insurance, though, thanks to the oppressive defense. Wheeler found a cutting Zibanejad in the midst of the period, and he deflected it past Hart for his second of the game.

Even though the shots were 37-19 Flyers, the outcome of the game was not indicated. For most of the match, New York was in charge of the play. They controlled the play speed and puck possession, which infuriated Philadelphia and their hockey club (10-9-1).

Igor Shesterkin Stars in Potential Morale Boost:

Igor Shesterkin was chosen on Friday even though the Bruins dominated Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Shesterkin needed a confidence boost after a couple of unsteady starts following his injury, and Friday’s game was just the thing. He even recorded his own shot on goal, demonstrating his quickness right away!

The saves poured in. He provided up Zibanejad’s second goal, stopped Owen Tippet following a Vincent Trochcek giveaway, and denied Tyson Forester on a Philly power play. Ryan Poehling had a chance after a mistake by K’Andre Miller, but Shesterkin stopped it and set up a faceoff.

Before completing Wheeler’s feed at the other end, Zibanejad won the draw. Although the Flyers managed to score late in the second, it’s difficult to hold Igor responsible for Sean Couturier’s deflection of a Nick Steer shot.

However, the third period was when the goaltender really showed off. Before Trouba could assist him, he made two point-blank stops on Konecny and Sean Couturier. Trouba then stopped a wraparound effort. Then he turned away Scott Laughton and Joel Farabee on the Flyers’ fifth power play.

Shesterkin had made 36 saves, +1.82 goals saved above expectation, when the horn rang. It is true that Jonathan Quick will start against the Bruins, but don’t misunderstand. Broadway doesn’t have any goalie dispute. It’s the return of Shesterkinator.