The Philadelphia Flyers (7-7-2) will face off against the New York Rangers (7-7-4) in Madison Square Garden tonight. It will be the first matchup between the two squads this season.
You can watch the game live online HERE.
The game will feature two of the hottest forwards in the league - the Flyers Jakub Voracek has seven goals, 19 assists and a plus-5 rating, and the Rangers Rick Nash has 12 goals, seven assists and a plus-2 rating.
For the Flyers, 20-year-old center Scott Laughton will make his season debut, taking the roster spot of Captain Claude Giroux, who will miss the contest with what has been deemed a lower-body injury. There has been no real update from general manager Ron Hextall on his status. Giroux was apparently injured during practice on Monday.
Laughton, a former first round draft pick, appeared in five games for the Flyers in 2012-13 before being returned to the OHL. This season, he has six goals and 11 points in 13 games for the Flyers AHL-affiliate, Lehigh Valley, according to NHL.com.
"I'm definitely a little bit surprised," Laughton said. "I was taking a nap back home and got a call from [coach] Terry Murray with the Phantoms. He just told me I was coming up. It's definitely an exciting time for me and my family. I'm definitely looking forward to coming here and trying to make an impact."
Flyers coach Craig Berube said he is excited to see what Laughton can do with the big club, and noted that his speed could help counteract the Rangers attack - something that has posed problems for Philadelphia in recent seasons.
"Laughton has been playing well, and I like his speed and the Rangers are a fast team," Berube said. "I think it makes sense to get the quicker guy in there, a guy who has been playing well."
Brayden Schenn will assume Giroux's spot on the top line and Laughton will center Vincent Lecavalier and Marc-Edouarde Bellamare on the third line, according to Sam Carchidi of Philly.com.
The Rangers meanwhile, who have won 13 of the past 17 regular season matchups between these two teams dating all the way back to 2011, will be without forward Lee Stempniak, according to coach Alain Vigneault. Jesper Fast will take his place.
Vigneault and forward Derek Stepan are both looking for the team to improve the consistency of their play.
"I think one of the hardest things is building chemistry with your linemates, and when you do finally find that chemistry, you need to have chemistry balance throughout your whole entire lineup," Stepan said. "Right now it seems me and [Kreider] are a pair here, and he's good for me because he's a fast skater and speeds up my game."
The game will also see 24-year-old Michael Del Zotto, signed by the Flyers this summer after word emerged of veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen's battle with blood clots, return to face his old team.
Del Zotto spent five seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Nashville Predators last season. The Predators dumped him, somewhat unceremoniously, in the off-season.
Del Zotto maintains that his focus will be solely on getting two points for the Flyers.
"I just have to go out and play my game. I'm not worried about what they think of me," Del Zotto said, according to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com. "I'm here with the Philadelphia Flyers and I am thrilled to be here and I am just worried about getting two points and helping the team win any way I can."
Cam Talbot will get the start in net for the Rangers, giving "King" Henrik Lundqvist a rare night off.
No word yet on who the Flyers will have between the pipes, but Steve Mason is the most likely candidate.
