Georgiev makes 29 saves and Rangers blank Flyers 3-0

PHILADELPHIA -- Alexandar Georgiev had all the answers against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Georgiev made 29 saves and Ryan Strome scored for the third consecutive game and the New York Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 on Sunday.

"You try to play the game well because any second (there) can be a scoring chance and some crazy bounce," Georgiev said.

Pavel Buchnevich, and Brady Skjei also scored for the Rangers and Brett Howden had two assists.

Strome scored late in the first period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead when he went top shelf on Flyers goalie Carter Hart, who had only one defenseman helping him defend an odd-man rush.

The goal was Strome's 17th of the season for the Rangers and 18th overall. He leads the NHL in goals for his new team after being traded this season. He was acquired from Edmonton in November. The second player on this list is Strome's brother, Dylan, who has 14 goals since being acquired by Chicago in a trade with Arizona in November.

A third Strome brother, Matthew, was assigned by the Flyers to their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley after the 20-year-old's junior team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, was eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

"Obviously when you get rid of a lot of veteran guys it's tough," Ryan Strome said of the rebuilding Rangers. "For our young group, the losing can wear on you a little bit. When we had that stretch there (of five straight losses earlier in March) it wasn't too much fun.

"Good to get a couple wins here. It's a tough building. They got a bunch of older guys that know how to win. Good to come in here and play a pretty solid road game. Good for the group to have a little more confidence moving forward."

The shutout was Georgiev's second of the season to keep the Flyers from winning all four games between the teams this season. The Flyers hadn't swept the season series against the Rangers since 1984-85. Going back to last season, the Flyers had taken six straight games against the Rangers.

It was the Flyers' first game since being eliminated from playoff contention.

"Obviously I think everybody is frustrated that the season is ending on Saturday," Flyers interim coach Scott Gordon said. "And we've got to find a way to generate energy in the last three games."

Buchnevich opened the scoring with his 20th of the season at 16:25 of the first period.

Brady Skjei scored his seventh of the season in the third period when his shot went off two Flyers and behind Hart, who finished with 22 saves.

The Flyers' best chance to score was when James van Riemsdyk had a breakaway late in the second period.

"I think I played a pretty good positional game," Georgiev said. "I tried to be square to the puck and be patient on my feet."

Game notes
The victory marked the first time the Rangers have won consecutive games since mid-January. ... Buchnevich collided with Flyers center Nolan Patrick early in the third period. Both players didn't see the other coming and Buchnevich left the game and did not return. "He's fine. He cleared," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "He should be fine for tomorrow."

UP NEXT:

Flyers: Start a two-game road trip in Dallas on Tuesday night.

Rangers: At the New Jersey Devils on Monday night.

---

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports