With two games remaining on their preseason schedule, the Philadelphia Flyers looked to leave the United States with a win before heading to Switzerland, taking on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Carter Hart received the start in net for the Flyers and opposed Henrik Lundqvist. The future Hall of Fame goaltender entered the game with a 3.00 Goals Against Average and a .919 save percentage and was aiming to obtain his first win of the exhibition campaign.
The first period was a rather eventful one, but not because of offensive output.