Rangers vs. Hurricanes: Lineups, storylines for Thanksgiving Eve clash
This time, the New York Rangers want to enjoy their Thanksgiving on the road together. So, it sure would go a long way if they can find a way to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Thanksgiving Eve.
A year ago, the Rangers lost 4-3 in Raleigh the night before Thanksgiving, and followed that up with a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia against the Flyers on Black Friday. Those defeats extended New York’s losing streak to five, part of a season-killing 4-15-0 stretch through the end of December.
The Rangers (11-11-2) are in somewhat better shape this season, but did require a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues at home Monday to end a season-high four-game losing streak. So, it’s not a dissimilar situation to a year ago heading into Thanksgiving.
Though it’s a step up in class when the Rangers face-off against the Metropolitan Division leaders Wednesday, they still take away many positives from their win against the Blues. Most importantly, they played a simplified low-event game, focused on defense first, and greatly limited St. Louis’ scoring chances with a complete 60-minute effort.
“It was nice to get a win at home in front of our fans, kind of see it as a mental re-set from the last trip (0-3-0). So, it’ll be exciting to go to Carolina now and hopefully keep on building from this,” forward Adam Edstrom said following practice Tuesday.
However, as stated, the Hurricanes (14-6-2) are not the Blues. Under coach Rod Brind’Amour, they remain one of the best-skating teams in the NHL, and one of the most successful. Carolina’s reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs seven straight years under Brind’Amour, and won at least one round each time. Last spring, they lost to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
The Hurricanes are on a five-game winning streak against the Rangers, including a four-game season-series sweep in 2024-25. That included a 7-3 win at Lenovo Center on April 12 that officially eliminated the Rangers from postseason contention. Carolina shut out New York 3-0 at MSG earlier this month on Nov. 4.
Overall, the Hurricanes are 3-2-2 since Nov. 11, and come off a 4-1 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
3 storylines when Rangers visit Hurricanes
Here’s the Key
Though he’s banged up physically, expect K’Andre Miller to dress for the Hurricanes on Wednesday and face his former team for the first time since a sign-and-trade this summer. Miller’s status was in question, but the 25-year-old defenseman took part in the morning skate and appears good to go.
Though he missed six games earlier this season due to injury — including Carolina’s win at MSG — Miller has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 16 games and stepped up into a top-pair role with Jaccob Slavin on IR for all but two games so far this season. Miller’s averaging a career-high 22:51 TOI, second most on the Hurricanes behind defenseman Sean Walker (23:23).
The 2018 first-round pick (No. 22 overall) played 368 regular-season games with the Rangers, recorded 132 points (36 goals, 96 assists), and helped them reach the conference final in 2022 and 2024 as a second defense pair staple.
Rangers reinforcements
J.T. Miller and Will Borgen are game-time decisions for the Rangers. But that’s a step in a good direction. And since each participated in the morning skate wearing regular jerseys, there’s a good chance they’ll return to the Rangers lineup Wednesday. Each was in a no-contact sweater at practice Tuesday.
Miller missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, after he scored two goals Thursday in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Borgen is on IR with an upper-body injury and missed five of the past six games. However, Borgen is eligible to come off injured reserve, and the Rangers made room on their roster when they placed forward Juuso Parssinen on waivers Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov won’t play Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury. Brind’Amour said the goalie who shut out the Rangers earlier this month “just doesn’t feel right.” In addition, Carolina captain Jordan Staal missed practice with an illness Tuesday, but should play against the Rangers.
Milestone night for Sebastian Aho
Sebastian Aho plays his 700th NHL game Wednesday, and shows no signs of slowing down for the Hurricanes. The 28-year-old forward leads the Hurricanes with 21 points and 13 assists in 22 games, and is second on the team with eight goals. He also leads Carolina forwards averaging 20:08 TOI.
Aho is nine goals shy of another milestone, 300 for his career. He’s never scored fewer than 24 in a season, and since his rookie campaign never fewer than 29.
He has 12 goals and 25 points in 32 games all-time against the Rangers.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Will Cuylle — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere
Artemi Panarin — Vincent Trocheck — Jonny Brodzinski
Conor Sheary — Noah Laba — Brett Berard
Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Carson Soucy — Braden Schneider
Urho Vaakanainen — Matthew Robertson
Igor Shesterkin
Dylan Garand
Rangers vs. Hurricanes: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
When: Wednesday Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Lenovo Center
How to watch: MSG2
