Flyers-Rangers 5 Things: Solving Henrik Lundqvist at MSG?

Flyers (23-19-6) at Rangers (31-16-1)
8 p.m. on NBCSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports App
 
The Flyers open another back-to-back set when they travel to Madison Square Garden for a matchup with the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.
 
Here are five things to know for the game:
 
1. Big games, then break
Before another break - this one for All-Star weekend - the Flyers have two key games, starting tonight with a visit to the rival Rangers, followed by the Maple Leafs on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center.
 
With 63 points, New York currently holds the Eastern Conference's first wild-card bid and is in fourth of the Metropolitan Division, ahead of the fifth-place Flyers, who own 52 points.
 
The Flyers are one point behind Toronto (53) for the second wild card, a spot nine teams all have a viable chance of securing by season's end. The Panthers trail the Flyers by only two points at 50, followed by six clubs - the Islanders, Hurricanes, Sabres, Red Wings, Lighting and Devils - at 49.
 
So the Flyers will have competition - and lots of it.
 
"It's been that way," head coach Dave Hakstol said Wednesday. "Right from the drop of the puck in October, it was going to be a battle. You can't get too distracted by it."
 
2. Feeling the King's wrath
The scariest thing for the Flyers right now is facing Henrik Lundqvist.
 
In his 12th season, the accomplished 34-year-old goalie has shown what some outsiders feel are signs of a decline. Lundqvist's 2.75 goals-against average and .906 save percentage are career worsts, which tell you how darn good he's been from Day 1 of his 2005-06 rookie season, especially for a goalie picked in the seventh round of the 2000 draft.
 
But "King Henrik," as he's popularly known, has looked like his vintage self the last three times out. The Swede is 3-0-0 with a 1.32 goals-against average and .952 save percentage over the Rangers' current three-game win streak.
 
And he's always given the Flyers fits. Lundqvist is 33-13-4 with a 2.39 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 52 career games against them, including 7-0-1 in his last eight meetings with the orange and black.
 
3. Mase finding his way?
Following his first win in over a month on Sunday, Steve Mason finally has something on which to build. He made 36 saves - featuring clutch ones in the third period and overtime - to help the Flyers rally and beat the Islanders, 3-2.
 
"I was happy with the way that, personally, this game went for myself," Mason said postgame. "It's been a tough stretch and this is more the type of game that I expect of myself. In recent games, the team was lacking the big saves and tonight it shows what kind of difference it can make."
 
The Rangers are a different animal, though. New York comes at you in waves and scores 3.44 goals per game, good for second most in the NHL.
 
This will be a true test for Mason, who has surrendered seven goals to the Rangers in two losses this season.
 
4. Keep an eye on ...
Flyers: We're going with Ivan Provorov, who has six points (one goal, five assists) in his last eight games, and will be vital to his team's chances with his play in both zones. The 20-year-old defenseman will also get his first taste of Madison Square Garden as a pro.
 
Rangers: Center J.T. Miller is rolling with points in 10 of his last 11 games. Over that stretch, the 23-year-old has seven goals and six assists for a plus-10 rating. The Rangers are 12-2-0 in games that Miller scores a goal.
 
5. This and that
• Mason is 7-6-3 with a 2.37 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in 17 career games against the Rangers.
 
• New York winger Kevin Hayes, who has 13 goals and 22 assists, is out two to three weeks with a lower-body injury.
 
• Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto is day to day with a lower-body injury.
 
• The Flyers have lost five straight to the Rangers dating back to last season.
 
• New York is 11-1-0 in its last 12 home games against the Flyers.