Taylor Raddysh will miss the New York Rangers’ upcoming game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, as he leaves the team to attend his father’s funeral. The 28-year-old forward, who has been a key contributor since the Olympic break this season, is sidelined due to the recent passing of his father, Dwayne Raddysh, who succumbed to stage-four pancreatic cancer last week.
Raddysh’s absence represents a significant development for the Rangers as they continue their difficult season, with the team relying on him in a prominent top-six role after Artemi Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. This loss comes as the Rangers prepare for a challenging road game against a Flyers club that remains in playoff contention.
Rangers adjust lineup amid personal loss for Raddysh
With Raddysh unavailable, Jonny Brodzinski will step into the lineup, joining center Vincent Trocheck and winger Will Cuylle. The Rangers also recalled Brendan Brisson from their American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford to provide depth. Raddysh has not only been on the scoresheet in four of his last five appearances but has also been instrumental since the Olympic break, where he increased his contributions following the roster shuffle caused by Panarin’s trade.
The Rangers entered Monday’s matchup with a 24-30-8 record after suffering a 6-3 defeat to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Despite an overall disappointing season, the team has found some recent success against the Flyers, taking five out of six points in their head-to-head matchups this year. That includes a 5-4 shootout victory at Madison Square Garden in December and a 6-3 road win in Philadelphia in January, although they lost the most recent meeting in overtime shortly after the Olympic pause.
Heading into this contest, New York held a strong record in Philadelphia, winning seven of their last eight visits to the city. This history will be tested again as the Rangers seek to maintain their momentum on the road without Raddysh.
Philadelphia Flyers remain competitive in Metropolitan Division
The Flyers currently hold a 29-22-11 record, placing them tied for fifth in the Metropolitan Division and eight points behind the third-place New York Islanders. They are also seven points behind the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, facing a challenging path to the playoffs that will require sustained improvement and favorable outcomes.
Philadelphia arrives at this game on the heels of a 4-3 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday and have posted a 4-2 record since the Olympic break. As they try to close the gap in the standings, the Flyers will look to leverage home-ice advantage to threaten the Rangers.
Key storylines shaping the Rangers-Flyers matchup
Lineup changes and defensive shuffle on Rangers’ blue line
Urho Vaakanainen returns to the Rangers lineup, replacing Vincent Iorio on the third defensive pairing. Vaakanainen, 27, last appeared for New York before the Olympic break in early February and had fallen down the depth chart behind Matthew Robertson, Scott Morrow, and Iorio as the season progressed. Despite limited recent playing time, the Rangers signed him to a two-year contract extension in March, signaling their intent to evaluate him further.
Vaakanainen recorded four assists in 27 games this season after posting a career-high 16 points between New York and the Anaheim Ducks last year. In contrast, Iorio’s recent play was hampered by a turnover-prone outing against the Devils in which he logged just over nine minutes on ice but led the team in giveaways. The Rangers face strategic decisions in pairing left- and right-handed shots, especially since both Robertson and Vaakanainen shoot left, necessitating one to play on their off side.
Igor Shesterkin aims to extend success against the Flyers
Starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin is expected to take the net for the Rangers, a logical choice given his strong track record against Philadelphia. Shesterkin holds a 10-4-2 career record versus the Flyers, boasting a 2.29 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. This season, however, he has conceded seven goals across two games against them, including both a shootout victory and an overtime loss. Injured earlier in the season with a lower-body issue, Shesterkin missed the mid-January contest.
Since returning from injury, Shesterkin posted a 2-0-2 record in four games but allowed 12 goals during that stretch, indicating some inconsistency. His counterpart on the Flyers’ side will be Dan Vladar, who has been reliable in net, allowing two or fewer goals in six of his past seven starts and holding a 20-10-6 record with a 2.40 goals-against average this season.
Power play struggles affect both teams’ chances
Special teams remain a concern for both clubs. The Rangers failed to capitalize on four power-play opportunities in their most recent game and have converted just two goals on 14 attempts during their last six games. Despite Adam Fox’s return and his resumption as the primary power-play quarterback, New York has yet to see the expected improvement in this area.
The Flyers also face offensive inefficiencies with the man advantage, converting at a league-worst 15.7 percent overall and going 2-for-18 in their last seven games. Yet they have managed to produce on the power play against the Rangers specifically, scoring three goals on 11 chances this season. The Rangers’ penalty-killing unit, however, showed vulnerabilities by allowing three power-play goals to the Devils in their most recent outing.
Projected Rangers lineup for the Flyers game
Alexis Lafreniere — Mika Zibanejad — Gabe Perreault
Will Cuylle — Vincent Trocheck — Jonny Brodzinski
Tye Kartye — Noah Laba — Conor Sheary
Adam Edstrom — Juuso Parssinen — Jaroslav Chmelar
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Will Borgen — Braden Schneider
Matthew Robertson — Urho Vaakanainen
Igor Shesterkin
Details for the Rangers vs. Flyers matchup
The New York Rangers will face the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, March 9, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The game takes place at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia and will be broadcast on MSG for fans hoping to watch from home. This contest offers a vital opportunity for both teams as they vie for playoff positioning and seek to build momentum in a challenging stretch of their respective seasons.
The absence of Taylor Raddysh adds an emotional dimension to the game for the Rangers, while adjustments to their lineup and tactical approach will be key as they navigate the final phase of their campaign amid personal and professional challenges.
