Winnipeg Jets at Washington Capitals
I’m curious to see if Eric Comrie can step up and fill a huge void for the Winnipeg Jets (12-9-0) with goalie Connor Hellebuyck out at least a month after undergoing knee surgery Saturday. Hellebuyck won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie last season, and decided to deal with a nagging injury. He has an 8-6-0 record in 14 starts with a 2.51 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. Comrie is a good backup with a 4-3-0 record, 2.87 GAA and .899 save percentage in seven starts. He didn’t get any offensive help in a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, making 27 saves, and will be in a tough spot again against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (12-9-2) at Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, SNW). Ovechkin had an assist in a 5-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. He has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 23 games this season. — Derek Van Diest, staff writer
New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes
It has been an up-and-down start for the Rangers, to say the least. They have been great on the road and have struggled mightily at home, resulting in a record (11-11-2) hovering around a .500 points percentage. It’s not what anyone expected when Mike Sullivan was named coach before the season, and though we are just past the quarter point of the season, the Rangers need to start winning on a more consistent basis. It won’t be easy against the Hurricanes (14-6-2), who have the best record in the Eastern Conference and are 6-2-1 at home. And they have former Rangers defensemen K’Andre Miller helping lead a defense that is missing Jaccob Slavin. I’m sure it will be a nice, friendly reunion of these two division foes at Lenovo Center (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, MSG 2) the night before Thanksgiving. — Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks (10-8-4) may not be so thankful to have the Wild coming into United Center for a nationally televised pre-Thanksgiving matchup (8:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+). The Wild (12-7-4) have been feasting on the opposition, winning five consecutive games, the past two by shutout, and getting points in eight straight (7-0-1). The Blackhawks have lost each of their past three games, losing each in regulation, including 9-3 to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. But Chicago has been a must-watch this season with Connor Bedard lighting it up with 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in 22 games. Nothing changes with a mini-slump, especially with the Wild rolling into the Windy City on a heater led by goalie Jesper Wallstedt, who has three shutouts in his past four starts. — Dan Rosen, senior writer
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche
Two of the top point producers in the NHL this season — and potential teammates on Canada’s Olympic team — will go head-to-head when Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks visit Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche at Ball Arena (9 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ALT). MacKinnon leads the NHL with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 22 games, helping propel the Avalanche (16-1-5) to the top of the League standings. In just his second NHL season, Celebrini is three behind with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 23 games for the surprising Sharks (11-9-3), who are 11-5-1 since an 0-4-2 start. Celebrini and MacKinnon each scored goals in San Jose’s 3-2 overtime win in their first meeting of this season on Nov. 1. Colorado has won nine in a row since then. MacKinnon was already selected to Canada’s roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Celebrini, 19, is making a strong case to join MacKinnon on the team. — Tom Gulitti, Senior Writer