Here are the biggest storylines for the New York Rangers and their schedule for the week of Dec. 21–28, 2025.
Captain J.T. Miller Injured
The most pressing news is the injury to captain J.T. Miller. He sustained an upper-body injury after a heavy hit from Philadelphia’s Nick Seeler during Saturday’s game (Dec. 20). Miller did not return to that game and did not travel with the team to Nashville for Sunday’s matchup. He is currently being evaluated by team doctors in New York.
Panarin’s Electrifying Return
Artemi Panarin returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing time due to illness. He immediately made an impact, scoring two goals in regulation and the game-winning goal in the shootout to complete a 5-4 comeback victory over the Flyers.
Zibanejad’s “Culture” Reset
Mika Zibanejad was recently benched by head coach Mike Sullivan for missing a team meeting due to traffic. This sparked significant discussion regarding team culture. Zibanejad responded on the ice Saturday with a crucial game-tying power-play goal late in the third period.
Rookie Call-Ups & Youth Movement
In a bid to spark offense, the Rangers recently recalled top prospects Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). Perreault scored his first career NHL goal earlier this week against the St. Louis Blues and added an assist against Philadelphia.
Adam Fox Still Out
Star defenseman Adam Fox remains on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) with an upper-body injury. While he has been spotted skating in a red non-contact jersey—a sign of progress—he remains out of the lineup for the immediate future.
Rangers Schedule Dec. 21 – 27
| Date | Opponent | Time (EST) | Venue | Broadcast/Notes |
| Sun, Dec 21 | @ Nashville Predators | 7:00 PM | Bridgestone Arena | J.T. Miller ruled out. |
| Tue, Dec 23 | @ Washington Capitals | 7:00 PM | Capital One Arena | Final game before break. |
| Sat, Dec 27 | @ New York Islanders | 6:00 PM | UBS Arena | Rivalry matchup. |
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