Rangers have extra incentive in facing Lightning

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The Rangers will be all business Thursday when they go for their franchise-record 10th straight win against the Lightning in Tampa Bay.

But make no mistake: They enjoyed the three-day break between games after Sunday's victory over the Maple Leafs.

After Monday's off-day, the team did skills work on Tuesday before a regular practice Wednesday. That mood was still light, as Derek Stepan played reporter after practice and was videotaped interviewing his teammates about Thanksgiving.

For the Canadian-born Rangers, it was a chance to compare American and Canadian Thanksgivings and contrast the weight of turkeys in pounds and kilos.

For Keith Yandle, it was a chance to sneak in a reference to his impressive mustache, which is known in the dressing room as the "Yandlebar.''

Under the Yandlebar was a reminder of what lies ahead for the Rangers when they get back to work. Yandle was hit in the lip with a stick during practice and was seen dripping blood as he skated back to the bench. He was all (swollen) smiles afterward, though.

Why wouldn't the Rangers smile? At least until they get their snarl back in their first look at the Lightning since Tampa Bay eliminated the Rangers last season in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It's a November game. But it's not just another game.

"I know that everybody in the room knows that's the team that eliminated us from going to the Stanley Cup Finals last year,'' coach Alain Vigneault said. "Seventh game. Third period. Going in 0-0. So from our standpoint, I think it's a big game. It's a serious game and I expect our guys to be highly motivated and very ready when they step on the ice Thursday.''

The Rangers seem to be catching the Lightning at a good time. Tampa Bay (8-9-3) has lost nine of its last 12 and was beaten, 1-0, by Florida in its last game on Monday. The Lightning have been shut out four times and held to one goal or fewer nine times this season.

Plus, there's the whole revenge angle.

"We look at it as we looked at our last game,'' Stepan said. "We're focusing on 60 minutes of hockey. They're a good hockey team. They're a team that can be a successful team because they have so much skill and so much depth. But we have to make sure we're ready to play because . . . they're going to bring it.''

After Tampa Bay, the Rangers visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday before returning home to begin an eight-game stretch in which their only road games will be in Boston and in Brooklyn against the Islanders. It's a chance to avoid the normal travails of NHL travel before a Western swing that begins on Dec. 9 in Vancouver.

Notes & quotes:Henrik Lundqvist will be back in goal after sitting out Sunday's win . . . Defenseman Dan Boyle will return to the lineup.

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.