Rangers vs Flyers live stream: Watch online free 7:10 ET Thursday as these Metropolitan Division rivals meet in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

The Rangers vs Flyers series will be the first of a best-of-seven series with the first two games taking place inside Madison Square Garden. Both teams were involved in a fight for the second seed of the division, which meant home-ice advantage against the third seed. New York secured second place by finishing the season strong while Philadelphia finished third. Watch the free live stream online as these longtime rivals play what could be a long series.

Watch the free live stream online of the Rangers vs Flyers below:

1) First Row Sports.

2) NHL Gamecenter

3) NHL AOSO

"We've been on a playoff push here for quite some time," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said of his club that went 10-3-1 record in 14 games before the season finale, in which many regulars sat out. "We've been playing under pressure, we've responded real well in the big games. That's why we were able to get in. Now we've got to continue."

Having home-ice advantage and game one in your arena with the potential of a game-seven as well, means so much to a team. These teams split the season-series with both going 2-0 at home.

"Game 1 is the most important game we're going to play," Vigneault said. "Both teams want to get off on the right foot. If you look at all the comparisons -- power play, penalty-killing, five on five, goaltending -- there is so little separating us. It's going to come down to good preparation on our part and the players' part. It's going to come down to the players going out and executing. I believe we're going through the right process right now, and I really believe our guys want to win."

It's more than three years since Philly has last won at MSG.

"I don't think we have to pay attention to that," veteran forward Vincent Lecavalier said. "That's in the past. We're focused on Game 1. ... We're going in there to win and it doesn't matter what happened the last three years or whatever. It's a series. We'll take it one game at a time."