© Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The Game: 7:30 PM, TNT, 97.5 The Fanatic

The Philadelphia Flyers have taken the train up the coast to visit some other random NHL team that happens to play at the station where they get off. The entire roster doesn’t even need to step outside to then start playing in a game for the National Hockey League. On the other side, the tunnel rats also named the New York Rangers are going to be playing for absolutely nothing.

This is a game between two teams who have close to zero motivation. The Flyers have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and the Rangers might as well be with their sad and elderly roster just trying to not embarrass themselves further than they already have this season.

It’s been a lovely miserable time for the Rangers. From threatening to trade the entire roster, to acquiring a problem player from Vancouver, and even more players showing their age as their window to win anything begins to rapidly close. And what they are experiencing right now might be their future for a while.

The Rangers are coming off of a 4-0 shutout loss to the Devils, a 5-1 disastrous loss to the Lightning, and then having to squeeze some points out of opponents like the Minnesota Wild and Anaheim Ducks. Whenever they face a mediocre or bad team, they can earn a win; and when any team with Cup hopes faces the Rangers, they have the upper hand. Hopefully they stay mediocre for a very long time.

For the Flyers, this is another game where the entire fan base hopes for a loss in hopes of a high draft pick. Nothing to see here. Just five more to go.

The young newcomers for the Rangers

We have to admit, the Rangers roster is not entirely made up of grumpy old veterans who just can’t wait to put their feet up for the next few months. Thanks to some seasons ending and some players excelling in the AHL, the Flyers’ opponent on Wednesday got an injection of youth.

Gabe Perrault the most obvious name but Brennan Othmann is another former first-round pick who has been scoring at a decent clip in the minors. Perrault has played three games with zero earned points, and Othmann has been up and down, totaling 19 games played with just two assists. Still, they’re players to look out for.

Perrault scoring his first NHL point against the Flyers’ terrible goaltending and against a team that passed over him in the first round, would be just so Philadelphia.

Matvei Michkov back on the scoring path

Matvei Michkov was on a scoring tear and with the John Tortorella firing happening in the middle of it, we all thought it would just be extended further and to the end of the season. Well, he has been producing a ton except for last Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Canadiens. It ended his point streak but facing countrymen Igor Shesterkin and Artemi Panarin tonight could spark a whole new streak.

Hell, and maybe the upcoming arrival of Ivan Demidov is pushing Michkov to force people to not pay attention to the shiny new Russian winger toy.

The impact of the York-Drysdale pairing

Brad Shaw putting Cam York and Jamie Drysdale together on a pairing is as interesting as a defensive pairing with two young players could be. Of course, York has turned his reputation from an uber-offensive blueliner to being someone who is just a steady hand defensively, and Drysdale wants to explode up the ice any chance he gets.

Through the 77ish minutes they have played next to each other this season at 5-on-5, the Flyers have 48.21 percent of the expected goals share, and just 46.32 percent of the shot attempt share, according to Evolving-Hockey. Plainly, the Flyers’ opponents have been on average better when these two are on the ice together — especially considering the Flyers have allowed seven goals and scored just three during those 77ish minutes. Not great!

But the dynamic of the two is still really intriguing. It is an early look into what could be a pairing for a long time, if both of these players solidify their roles.

Philadelphia Flyers

Tyson Foerster — Noah Cates — Bobby BrinkTravis Konecny — Sean Couturier — Matvei MichkovOwen Tippett — Ryan Poehling — Jakob Pelletier

Nic Deslauriers — Karsen Dorwart — Garnet Hathaway

Nick Seeler — Travis SanheimCam York — Jamie Drysdale

Egor Zamula — Emil Andrae

Sam Ersson

(Ivan Fedotov)

New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis LafreniereWill Cuylle — J.T. Miller — Mika ZibanejadChris Kreider — Sam Carrick — Gabe Perrault

Brennan Othmann — Jonny Brodzinski — Matt Rempe

Carson Soucy — Adam FoxZac Jones — Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin

(Jonathan Quick)