Rangers Return From Thanksgiving Hiatus in Matinee Against Flyers

I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving with the family and loved ones. As the NHL returns from the day off, the Rangers get thrown into the action in a Friday matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers. Philadelphia has been able to withstand the test of the early season and sits in a playoff position as we emerge on the other side of Thanksgiving here in the United States, meaning they’re in a good position to contend for the playoffs.

The Rangers will be looking to build on their 1-0 shutout victory over the other team in Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. Philly will provide a unique challenge, something the Blueshirts have not faced this season. With John Tortorella behind the bench, this is going to be a disciplined, difficult-to-break-down, strong defensive team itching to cause problems for the Metropolitan Division leaders.

If you thought that the game against the Penguins was a display that did not show the best qualities of this Rangers team, expect a lot more of that tonight. There are going to be times tonight when the Blueshirts look out of rhythm, and it will be solely due to the way the Flyers set up under Torts. New York will very much need its stars to show up and its depth to speak up if they want to get out of the game tonight with two points.

Projected Lineups

New York Rangers

Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Blake Wheeler
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle – Nick Bonino – Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey – Barclay Goodrow – Tyler Pitlick

K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren – Erik Gustafsson
Zac Jones – Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick

Philadelphia Flyers

Tyson Foerster – Sean Couturier – Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett – Ryan Poehling – Cam Atkinson
Joel Farabee – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers – Scott Laughton – Garnet Hathaway

Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler – Sean Walker
Egor Zamula – Marc Staal

Carter Hart
Samuel Ersson

Puck Drop

This is a 1. p.m. Eastern puck drop, so you can enjoy your leftovers for lunch today and sit down in front of the television to enjoy a Rangers game with whoever is left in town. MSG will have the Rangers home feed, and NBC Philadelphia will show off the Flyers feed if you are in that part of the world. The NHL Network will also cover the game this after noon, so you can enjoy it however you see fit.