The Philadelphia Flyers, who are battling for most of March, knew they already had an uphill battle to claim form early in the season and return to the playoffs.
The hill looks even bigger now.
The New York Rangers, inconsistent for most of the season, woke up in a major way on Wednesday night, accompanying the Flyers 9-0 at Madison Square Garden, humiliating a rival and their former coach, Alain Vigneault.
“I couldn’t defend and I couldn’t play,” Vigneault said. – I’m really embarrassed.
Flyers essentially watched as Mika Zibanejad equaled an NHL record with six points, including three goals, in a period as the Rangers reached the highest margin of victory since 1986. And they did so without their staff. of a full-time coach behind the bench. due to COVID-19 protocols.
“It’s embarrassing to play on that ice tonight, the way we played. We didn’t help our goalkeepers at all,” Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. “I mean, there aren’t many words to say. We know we have to wake up and the good thing is that we have a game [Thursday]. So we have to answer [then]. “
Brian Elliott allowed five goals on 13 shots, and Carter Hart allowed four more on 16 shots, as the Rangers only scored seven in the second period.
“Obviously we talked about it a little after the game, but everyone knows it’s not acceptable,” Giroux said, “and there has to be an answer.”
On Thursday, the Flyers will take them to New York Island.
“No doubt we weren’t good tonight,” Vigneault said. “We’ll get to Long Island here and get ready.”
Philadelphia has just six points in nine games this month. And the team that won three of four to open the season and had a four-game winning streak in January is now three points behind the Boston Bruins for the playoff spot in the Eastern Division.