RALEIGH, N.C. — For Thanksgiving, the Rangers should be grateful they are just over .500.

A 4-2 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes on Wednesday night tipped the Blueshirts that way just in time for the Nov. 27 benchmark, giving the team a middling 12-11-2 record with roughly 30 percent of the season gone.

Even though Carolina is hampered by injuries, this was a victory the Rangers could hang their hat on.

Because 25 games into the 2025-26 campaign, the organization is fortunate not to be any lower in the NHL standings than they already are.

It’s been a chaotic ride thus far, one that’s been filled with inconsistent play, an abysmal record at Madison Square Garden and a surplus of injuries that have certainly factored into their struggles.

On Wednesday night inside Lenovo Center, however, the Rangers overcame the well-oiled machine that is this Hurricanes team to lean toward solid ground rather than off the cliff.

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) smiles after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. James Guillory-Imagn Images

Behind a two-point effort from Artemi Panarin, the Rangers handed the Hurricanes their third regulation loss of the season on home ice. They were outshot and under siege at times through 60 minutes, but the Rangers generated timely scoring and let goalie Igor Shesterkin handle the rest with 35 saves.

Somehow, the Rangers emerged from a lopsided opening 20 minutes with a 1-0 lead.

Carolina limited the visitors to just four shots on goal in the first period, but Noah Laba found the back of the net on what was the team’s second shot at the 16:53 mark.

From the right faceoff circle, Laba picked the far corner on Canes goalie Frederik Andersen to snap a nine-game stretch without a goal.

Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck (16) controls the puck near Carolina Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake (53) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. AP

The Rangers struggled to stay out of the penalty box in the second period.

While one or two were questionable, the Rangers were called for three consecutive penalties and, as a result, weren’t able to find any rhythm at five-on-five.

A Shayne Gostisbehere one-timer on the Canes power play evened the score at one-all just over five minutes into the middle frame.

Noah Laba #42 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after a goal during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on November 11, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. NHLI via Getty Images

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Toward the end of the second, Panarin blasted a bullet one-timer by Andersen to regain the lead for his team.

The Rangers then captured their largest lead of the night just 45 seconds into the third period, when Vincent Trocheck put one in from between the circles for the 3-1 advantage.

Seth Jarvis kept his team in it by responding with his 12th goal of the season. Going top corner on Shesterkin, Jarvis cut the Rangers lead back to one with just under 11 minutes remaining in regulation.