Chris Kreider is congratulated by Rick Nash after his power play goal put the Rangers up 4-0 on the Flyers.
Getty Images/Seth Wenig

When you’re hot, you’re hot. Suddenly, the Rangers are back to playing consistent hockey. They continued their best stretch by dismantling the Flyers 4-1 at an energized Garden. The latest win moved them into a tie for second in the Metro with Washington. They have played two more games but own the all important regulation/overtime wins tiebreaker with 21 ROW compared to the Caps’ 14.

A three-goal first period put the Flyers in a foul mood. The first two came within a 28-second span. One of the story lines was Daniel Carcillo going up against another former team. He was a popular Flyer antagonist. In his third game as a Ranger, he scored his first goal. It came out of sheer hustle with Carcillo stealing a puck and stuffing home a wrap around past Ray Emery at 2:14. Exactly what you want to see from the fourth line energizer.

Inspired by a goal that reminded me of another former pest Sean Avery, the Blueshirts followed it up on the next shift by getting a second. This time, it was Rick Nash finishing off his 11th from Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh. The Flyers had a terrible defensive breakdown, allowing Kreider to easily find an open Nash for his fourth in four games. That made it two straight with one. If he continues to finish, that’s great news.

For the opposite side, it wasn’t so good with Philadelphia coach Craig Berube forced to call a timeout. Playing its second consecutive game over two nights, they weren’t sharp. Even though they fired 17 shots on Henrik Lundqvist, he was equal to the challenge. Following a missed hold, Dan Girardi was sent off for interference. Lundqvist fought off a few testers through traffic to keep the Flyers off the board.

”I got tested early, and you gain confidence when you make a couple of good saves,” Lundqvist said after winning his third straight start for the first time all season. ”I’m happy with the way I am playing.

”It definitely helps when we play the way we play in front of me and make good decisions all over the ice.”

With their goalie shutting the Flyers down, the Rangers made it three first period goals. Derick Brassard buried a one-timer top shelf for his eighth. Following a faceoff win in the offensive zone, a quick cycle resulted in Benoit Pouliot recovering the puck to Mats Zuccarello along the boards. While being checked, he had enough strength to center a perfect backhand saucer pass to a vacated Brassard, who made no mistake.

They could’ve had four. It’s arguably the best period of the season. Especially on home ice given who it was against. The Flyers have played much better and entered leading us by a point. With teams getting points around them, it was imperative for the Rangers to keep pace.

This was only my fifth game. The last one didn’t go so well with them losing badly to the Caps on my birthday. I entered 1-3-0. I was hoping to see a win against a hated rival. There were enough Flyer fans painted in orange and black throughout the arena. I’d say probably 20 percent. Despite their team’s discouraging play, they made their presence known. One of the highlights was a Flyers fan tossed out in the third. Typical of the rivalry.

Not shockingly, the Flyers tried to goon it up once they were down. Scott Hartnell earned a rough after engaging Carcillo during a scrum. I’m sure Carbomb said something to rile him up. A fairly appropriate Twitter moniker for a guy who’s made a living agitating opponents. At some point, you knew he was going to have a fight. That happened during the second when he stepped up in class and fought Luke Schenn. Much bigger in stature, Schenn rag dolled him a couple of times. But a game Carcillo got up twice and kept throwing earning cheers. This is a player we hated. If he keeps this up, you won’t recognize our fans.

”I just got here, and from what I can see, when we do the little things right and play the game plan that we want to play against our opponents, we seem to have success,” Carcillo said.

With the game more physical throughout, Nicklas Grossmann boarded Kreider from behind. For the most part, the power play struggled. On an abbreviated 5-on-3, they cut it too fine. Just as I tweeted another gem from my seat in 419, I said it would be nice for them to get one. That’s when Kreider came out sending a backhand off Braydon Coburn. His team-leading 12th broke a five-way tie. Four players are tied for second with 11 including Nash, Carl Hagelin, Brad Richards and Zuccarello. An odd balance. Brassard and Pouliot each have eight.

In the third, the only question was whether Lundqvist could get the shutout. But that wasn’t to be as the Flyers converted a power play goal with Zuccarello in the box. Former Islander Mark Streit’s one-timer snuck through a maze past Lundqvist cutting it to 4-1 with 13:11 remaining. Sean Couturier and Vinny Lecavalier had assists. For Lecavalier, it was career assist number 500.

A Ryan McDonagh penalty handed them a second straight man-advantage. But a focused Lundqvist wouldn’t allow the Flyers to get any closer. Once it was decided, they did what they do. The craziness came after we left. But we heard an incensed Dave Maloney on ESPN Radio getting on the officials for not giving Hartnell anything following a punch to Carcillo. What else would you expect? The circus included John Moore scrapping with Braydon Schenn and two players from each side earning misconducts including Brian Boyle, Carcillo, Luke Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.

The Flyers acted like babies because that’s who they are. When they lose, they can’t do it cleanly. That’s why they’re so universally loathed. The 1970’s were four decades ago. No wonder they haven’t won anything since.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Rick Nash, NYR (11th of season-4 goals over last 4 and looking dangerous with 6 shots in 15:37)

2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (his 37 saves can’t be overlooked-rounding into form)

1st Star-Daniel Carcillo, NYR (1st goal as a Ranger, drew a penalty, fought and drove his ex-team batty in 12 shifts-9:42)