When I was younger and growing up in New York there was one marquee matchup that I would move heaven and earth to watch or listen to, that was Rangers-Flyers, it didn’t matter if it was the regular season or the playoffs. I had to watch and I saw as many of those matchups as humanly possible.

I was always pretty active so as I got older I had to find more and more creative ways to catch games. I had a transistor radio, I had a Sony Watchman, and when I got my car, I once made everybody playing in a softball game listen to a Rangers-Flyers playoff game from the 1981-82 Patrick Division Semifinals. Hey, I wasn’t going to miss either event so this was my only solution. I can’t remember if we won the softball game but the Rangers won that night and they won that series - - a rarity when it came to facing the Flyers.

I’ve watched or listened to games in strange places all my life. Well tomorrow and Sunday I will be privileged enough to cover this home-and-home series and I’ll tell you what the atmosphere at MSG tomorrow night will be electric!

Here are my keys to the game:

Rangers:
If the Rangers get goaltender Brian Boucher moving laterally they have a better chance of winning. His side to side movement isn’t the same and teams have had some success scoring down low from either side. The Flyers defense must collapse around him if they want to combat this. Don’t let the Flyers take runs at Henrik Lundqvist.

Flyers:
Get Jeff Carter involved in the game early, should be play. If he does this gives Philadelphia a great edge. If he doesn’t play look for role players like Ian Laperriere or Daniel Carcillo to have an impact. The Rangers will feel the loss of Sean Avery in this game.

I’m not giving a prediction but what I will do is hope for a pair of great “Patrick Division” hockey games.