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Rangers fall to Flyers in up-and-down rookie game for Alberts Smits
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- Rangers fall to Flyers in up-and-down rookie game for Alberts Smits
The New York Rangers came up short in the opening game of the 2026 Rookie Series, falling 3-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers at PPL Center in Allentown, PA, on Saturday.
It was a mixed bag for first-round defenseman Alberts Šmits — and the Blueshirts as a whole, for that matter. Šmits, selected No. 5 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, assisted on both Rangers goals and consistently showcased his strong 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. He was also on the ice for all three goals against and struggled to move the puck in the first period, turning it over several times.
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All of New York 's offense came on the power play, where they converted on two of three opportunities at 5-on-4. However, defensive lapses at even strength ultimately cost them. The Rangers prospects struggled to contain a Flyers top line led by former No. 13 overall pick Jett Luchanko and winger Alex Bump .
Bump factored on two of Philadelphia's three goals, assisting on a second-period score and netting the game-winner early in the third.
The Rangers set an early physical tone thanks to booming hits from forwards Cole Beaudoin and Spencer Bowes , a member of New York's 2026 Draft Class . The Flyers didn't hesitate to respond, though, and had the scoring touch to come out on top.
Callum Tung started in net for New York and took the loss despite a valiant effort. Former second-round pick Carson Bjarnason earned the win for Philadelphia, withstanding a strong surge from the Rangers in the final frame.
Flyers top line dominates Rangers in rookie camp opener
The Flyers struck first, capitalizing on a loose defensive sequence by the Rangers. Alex Ciernik pried the puck away from Šmits behind the goal line and sent a centering pass to the low slot. As both sides battled for possession, Matthew Gard crashed the crease unmarked and jammed it past Tung at 4:27 of the first period.
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Luchanko nearly made it 2-0 on a breakaway midway through the frame, only to be denied by Tung's pad.
The Rangers tied the game at 15:15 of the first period, capitalizing on a roughing penalty by Flyers first-rounder Maksim Solokovskii (No. 27 overall 2026). After playing catch with Šmits at the point, 20-year-old forward Liam Greentree fired a shot that deflected off Dylan Roobroeck's stick and past Bjarnason for the equalizer.
A tripping penalty on Flyers defenseman Ty Murchison at 19:11 of the first gave New York a chance to break the 1-1 tie. Instead, Philadelphia killed off the penalty, dictated play in the middle frame, and seized a one-goal lead when Cole Knuble scored at 15:21 of the second. Bump curled up along the far wall and connected with a crashing Knuble, who got behind Rangers forward Tomas Chrenko and sent a backhander into the open net.
🚨 ALEX BUMP! 🚨
Bumper buries one to extend our lead early in the third period!
💻: https://t.co/E0eAQVNmdL | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/HMkvZIEvA7— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 13, 2026
All in all, the Blueshirts were fortunate to escape the second period with just a one-goal deficit. Philadelphia failed to convert after a tripping penalty on Bryce McConnell-Barker and Tung turned away Flyers forward Nathan Quinn on a breakaway.
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Momentum carried over into the third when Philadelphia struck again, just 45 seconds in. Luchanko led the rush, drawing two defenders before sliding the puck across to an unmarked Bump for the score.
This time, New York issued a quick response. Solokovskii took another roughing penalty less than a minute later and the Rangers scored off the power-play draw when Nathan Aspinall unleashed a quick shot from the top of the left circle at 1:33 of the third.
OHL 2nd place points leader gets the #NYR within one, what a snipe. pic.twitter.com/d0IBJSFlnn
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) September 13, 2026
The Rangers showed good life in the third, but a tripping penalty on forward Jacob Battaglia at 18:29 neutered the comeback effort.
Action continued after the final horn, crescendoing in a 5-on-5 postgame scrum that saw Murchison and Roobreck exchange punches at the blue line.
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The Rangers and Flyers will square off for round two at 5 p.m. EST on Sunday afternoon for the conclusion of these rookie games .
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