Flyers vs. Rangers, Game 14 of 2021 season: Live stream, storylines, game time and more

Following their NHL-mandated seven-day shutdown created by COVID-19, the Flyers (8-3-2) will play their first game in 11 days when they host the Rangers (4-7-3) Thursday.

Let's get into the essentials for the game:

When: 7 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live at 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center
Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the NBC Sports MyTeams app

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• Undermanned might be an understatement for how the Flyers will have to employ their personnel against the Rangers. Without Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom, Scott Laughton and Justin Braun because of COVID protocol, the Flyers have jobs for the taking.

Maksim Sushko will make his NHL debut, Samuel Morin will play his second NHL game at the wing position, David Kase and Andy Andreoff will make their season debuts, while others have climbed lines.

"There are lot of guys that have wanted more minutes, bigger role," Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday morning. "They're going to get that opportunity tonight and hopefully they can help us win a game."

• The NHL has instituted game-day point of care rapid COVID-19 tests for all clubs in addition to the lab-based PCR testing. In the Flyers' situation, it appears the NHL is taking all precautions with the team double-testing every day, game day or not. Tack on the snow accumulations Thursday in the Philadelphia area, it's safe to say the Flyers' routine of late has been eventful. Because of the little ice time the Flyers have had together, the team on Thursday held a morning skate at Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. Just getting there and on the ice was a process.

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"We had some guys that got tested here, their two tests here at the Skate Zone, but we had all the players [that live in Philly] go to Wells Fargo, there are more units and more machines there to test players," Vigneault said. "They had to drive there and then drive out to the Skate Zone in the conditions that were on the road today, it was a little bit more challenging but it's just part of what we have to do. For a certain amount of time, we're going to have to get tested two times a day. We can't do them all here at the Skate Zone, those rapid tests, we have to use the equipment that's at Wells Fargo. So we send the Philly guys there, send the other guys here. Today was just a little bit more challenging because of the weather."

• Thursday marks the Flyers' first meeting with the Rangers, who have lost four straight.

Artemi Panarin, a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist last season, has 15 points through 12 games. Last season, the Flyers held Panarin in check (no goals, three assists, minus-4) over three matchups.