Back in 2011, the Rangers’ Thanksgiving call-ups, Carl Hagelin and John Mitchell, paid off quickly in a 2-0 win over the Flyers at Madison Square Garden.

Hagelin scored his first NHL goal in the third period off assists from Mitchell and Ryan McDonagh, sealing the win after Brad Richards gave New York a 1-0 lead with a second-period power-play goal. Hagelin would retrieve his own rebound after shooting in on net after retrieving the point shot from McDonagh.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29 shots for his second shutout of the season, including a key breakaway save on Scott Hartnell. The Flyers, missing several starters—including Pronger, Jagr, van Riemsdyk, and Lilja—leaned on Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 30 saves in the loss.

Hagelin and Mitchell, recalled from AHL Connecticut, have each recorded points in every game since joining the team. Their promotions came ahead of a three-game suspension for Andre Deveaux. Both had excelled with the Whale, often playing on a line with Mats Zuccarello.

HBO’s cameras were on hand as the rivals squared off for the first time ahead of their Winter Classic clash. The game started with a fight just four seconds in between Brandon Prust and Zac Rinaldo, adding early drama to an already heated matchup.

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