VOORHEES — Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto will try his best to stay focused on what's important Wednesday night.
It won't be easy.
This Flyers-Rangers game at Madison Square Garden will be emotional because it's his first trip back since his messy divorce from his first NHL club.
It's his first chance to show the Rangers that he's again playing at a very high level, as he did for them in 2011-12 when he finished 12th in the Norris Trophy voting after he scored 10 goals, 41 points and was a plus-20 in 77 games.
"I'm excited, being there for 4 1/2 years," Del Zotto said after Flyers practice Tuesday. "I don't want to look too much into this. It is a big game for us. It would be neck and neck with them in the standings. And we are trying to clear up our road game, losing two in a row.
"This is a big game for us, so I don't want to look into it too much. It's just another game. I will bring my best effort, and we need a consistent 60 minutes from everyone if we want to be successful."
Still, Del Zotto was very unhappy how his time with the Rangers ended. He didn't like being benched at times last season and he didn't see eye to eye with his coach, Alain Vigneault.
This season, De Zotto arguably has been the Flyers' best blueliner. In 16 games, he has two goals, eight points and is a plus-2.
"Any competitive person or athlete has to prove something," Del Zotto said. "That's just the competitive nature in you, but that's something that I have not had a lot of thinking about. I just have to go out and play my game. I'm not worried about what they think of me. I'm here with the Philadelphia Flyers and I am thrilled to be here and I am just going to try and help the team win any way I can."
Del Zotto's 2013-14 season was a big disappointment.
He suited up for them 42 times, missed one game with an injury and was a healthy scratch nine times. His January 2014 trade to Nashville was a needed change, but he his short stint there didn't go well, either, as he played 25 games and sat out five.
Nashville wound up cutting ties with Del Zotto after the season by not offering him a $2.9 million, which led to unrestricted free agency and then more frustration.
The free agent signing period began on July 1, but nobody signed Del Zotto until August when the Flyers gave him a one-year, $1.3 million deal on the day it announced veteran blueliner Kimmo Timonen would be sidelined indefinitely due to blood clots.
Del Zotto, 24, initially struggled with the Flyers, as he was a minus-5 with two points through seven games. His game started picking up when he was switched from being paired with Luke Schenn to Nick Schultz, his partner for the last eight games.
On Tuesday night, he'll be on the top pair with Braydon Coburn.
"It's different," Del Zotto said. "It's not the same playing with each player. This will be my third partner this season. I enjoyed playing with Schenner. I enjoyed playing with Schultz. We had some chemistry. As you get some games and some practice reps, it's the same thing with Coby. So whatever position or pairings the coaches put out, we have faith in each other to do the job."
On Tuesday, he'll do the job in his old stomping grounds.
"I'm sure once I walk in for a game, it will bring back a lot of memories," he said. "Like I said, it's another game for us. I don't want to look too much into it and get caught up in the moment. It's a big game and we need these two points."
Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.