PHILADELPHIA — It was only Thanksgiving week, but Matt Puempel described it as “early Christmas . . . that’s the best way to put it.”
Puempel, 23, who was waived by the Ottawa Senators and claimed by the Rangers on Monday, used his speed and offensive instincts to score Friday on a rush in his first period as a Blueshirt.
Jimmy Vesey came down the right side and led Puempel, charging down the middle ahead of a Flyers defenseman and he beat Steve Mason at 14:50 to push the Rangers’ lead to 2-0. Josh Jooris, the center on that line received the secondary assist in what was an eventual 3-2 win for the Rangers.