Rangers vs. Panthers: Lineups, storylines for 2026 NHL Winter Classic

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Rangers vs. Panthers: Lineups, storylines for 2026 NHL Winter Classic

Rangers vs. Panthers: Lineups, storylines for 2026 NHL Winter Classic — Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Jim Cerny · Forever Blueshirts

Fri, Jan 2, 2026 ·

6 min read

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Perhaps this time when the New York Rangers try once again to get their season back on track, they'll have history on their side. The Rangers take a perfect 5-0-0 all-time outdoor record into their clash Friday against the Florida Panthers in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami.

The Rangers have more outdoor wins than any NHL team, and are undefeated in the Winter Classic, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Jan. 2, 2012, and the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime on Jan. 1, 2018. They also won each of their three games in the Stadium, Series, including their most recent outdoor contest. The Rangers rallied for a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory against the Islanders at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 18, 2024.

Of course, all of that positive history is just that: history. It's in the past. Even if Rangers captain J.T. Miller scored the OT winner outdoors at Citi Field back in 2018, and Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad were among the heroes against the Islanders two seasons ago.

The reality is that the Rangers (19-18-5) lost three straight games (0-2-1), are the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL (2.55 goals per game), and own the worst points percentage (.512) in the 16-team Eastern Conference.

That makes this game against the Panthers, whether it's played outdoors in Miami, indoors at a traditional ice hockey rink, or on the moon, important. Especially since the Panthers are in the same battle for a playoff spot in the East.

"I think it's a fun practice," goalies Igor Shesterkin said Thursday after the Rangers practiced outdoors and then had a family skate. "But It's not going to be a fun game. It's a battle for us and we need two points as soon as possible. We need to work hard for that."

New York closed out 2025 with a 6-3 loss road loss to the Washington Capitals on New Years Eve. This is the last of six straight games on the road, with the Rangers 1-3-1 so far through the first five. Despite the recent tough stretch, the Rangers still lead the NHL with 14 road wins.

They'll get their first look this season at the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions on Friday. The Panthers (21-15-3) are two points up on the Rangers with three games in hand. Despite a whopping 212 man-games lost to injury this season, the Panthers are right in thick of the playoff race, and considered favorites to land a spot in the top eight in the East.

Florida's played all season without star forwards Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk . Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov 's missed 37 of 39 games. But they find a way. And Tkachuk is close to returning from sports hernia surgery, though it won't be Friday against the Rangers.

The Panthers come off a bad loss Tuesday, though. They blew a 2-0 third-period lead, and lost 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens in overtime. They're 2-2-1 in their past five games, following a stretch of seven wins in eight games.

3 storylines when Rangers face off with Panthers in Winter Classic

NHL: New York Rangers at Florida Panthers — Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

1. Block out distractions

These big NHL events can be difficult for the players because there are so many distractions. The build up. The hoopla. The media attention. The bigger stage. Juggling family concerns and ticket requests.

Of the two teams playing in the Winter Classic on Friday, it's the Panthers who have more experience thriving in these situations, even though this is their first outdoor game. That comes with playing in three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, and winning the past two, where the stage doesn't get any bigger, and the pressure and distractions dwarf those of one outdoor contest.

So, it's even more incumbent on the Rangers to buckle down and remain focused on the task at hand.

"You have to remind yourself that it's two points that are important, too," Zibanejad explained Thursday . "It's the same two points like any other game but [the Winter Classic] becomes a special game. When you win a game like this, there's a different type of emotion to it, I think."

2. Rangers forward depth challenged

NHL: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals — Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images

The Rangers remain without Miller, who misses his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury. He skated in a no-contact jersey Thursday, so that's a positive sign. Also out up front are center Noah Laba and winger Conor Sheary. This isn't exactly akin to the Panthers playing without Barkov and Tkachuk all season so far, but this collective absence is a serious test for the Rangers depth at the forward position.

Laba's week to week with an upper-body injury, after the rookie was on the receiving end of a massive Tom Wilson open-ice hit Wednesday. In the same game, Sheary sustained a lower-body injury after an awkward collision with Washington's Brandon Duhaime . The Rangers placed the 33-year-old on LTIR and coach Mike Sullivan remarked that Sheary isn't expected back "anytime soon."

To fill the void, the Rangers recalled three forwards from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Brett Berard draws in for Sheary to play a bottom-six role on the wing. Veteran Justin Dowling makes his Rangers debut, replacing Laba as the third-line center. Anton Blidh is the extra forward and a healthy scratch for the outdoor contest Friday.

3. Igor vs. Bob

NHL: Stadium Series-New York Rangers at New York Islanders — Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It's always special when Shesterkin goes head-to-head with Sergei Bobrovsky in the goaltending matchup. They are two of the best in the world at the position, and this outdoor spectacle just adds an extra spotlight on them.

Bobrovsky bested Shesterkin when the Panthers defeated the Rangers in six games in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final. The 37-year-old has two Stanley Cup championships and two Vezina Trophy wins on his resume. Shesterkin, who turned 30 a few days ago, won the Vezina in 2021-22 and surpassed Bobrovsky and others for the highest AAV contract for a goalie in NHL history this season.

It's the second outdoor game for each. Shesterkin allowed five goals but was on the winning end when the Rangers rallied past the Islanders two years ago. Bobrovsky, if you remember, started for the Flyers in the 2012 Winter Classic, when he was outdueled by Henrik Lundqvist .

Each is a big-game money goalie; and Shesterkin already seemed dialed in on Thursday.

"It's a new year, it's the first game of the new year, and we have lost three in a row," Shesterkin said. "So for us, it will be a huge game."