Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo delivers a big hit on Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein in Game 1.
AP Photo/Bruce Bennett

Whenever you play a rival in the postseason, expect plenty of rough stuff. Both the Flyers and Rangers ramped up the intensity. Neither side passed up an opportunity to finish a check. It’s what you come to expect in a hardly fought first round match-up.

In Game 1, the teams combined for 69 hits. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia won the physical battle outhitting the Rangers 37-32. In fact, 16 of the Flyers’ 18 skaters registered a hit. Matt Read and Luke Schenn led the way with five each. Only two Flyers didn’t including Vinny Lecavalier and Mark Streit. Three Blueshirts shared the team lead with four apiece coming from Brian Boyle, Jesper Fast and Kevin Klein. Only three Rangers failed to register one. They were Dominic Moore, Marc Staal and Anton Stralman.

In another key category, the Flyers blocked 22 shots to the Rangers’ 16. They were led by Kimmo Timonen’s five with former Islander Andrew MacDonald chipping in four along with the Flyers’ only goal. For the Rangers, Staal paced them with four blocks followed by Derek Stepan’s three.

Faceoffs were 26-23 in favor of the Rangers. Derick Brassard was their best going 9 for 14. Dom Moore was also strong winning 7 of 11. Stepan finished 7 and 9 while Game 1 hero Brad Richards went 3 and 5. For the Flyers, Claude Giroux was 9 for 14 on draws. Adam Hall went 6 for 10 while Brayden Schenn was .500 (3 for 6). Sean Couturier had an off night losing 10 of 14. Lecavalier lost 4 of 5.

Takeaways: Flyers 8 Rangers 10

Giveaways: Flyers 4 Rangers 16