Rangers Face Off Against Hurricanes Without Miller

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Rangers fell to the Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime on Monday night, marking the fourth consecutive game Captain JT Miller missed due to an upper-body injury.

Head coach Mike Sullivan remains optimistic, suggesting Miller could rejoin the squad as they move on from this road trip to face Washington and later Miami for the upcoming Winter Classic.

Miller, currently on injured reserve, was named player-of-the-week for his performance prior to sustaining the injury from an open-ice check by the Flyers’ Nick Seeler on December 20. He had to leave that game in the third period and hasn’t played since.

Over the weekend, Sullivan mentioned that Miller managed to skate alone before team practice, which indicates he might be getting closer to a return.

Meanwhile, defenseman Adam Fox continues to be sidelined, missing his 14th straight game after injuring his left shoulder during a 4-1 defeat against the Lightning late last month. However, Fox is expected to participate in the optional morning skate on Monday and will no longer wear a red non-contact jersey.

Fox is now eligible to be activated from long-term injured reserve at any moment.

In other news, Sam Carrick returned to his fourth-line role on Monday after sitting out a recent practice due to a flu-like illness that’s been circulating in the locker room.

This illness has affected other players too, including Artemi Panarin, Matt Rempe, Gabe Perreault, and assistant coach David Quinn.

Brennan Osman was a healthy scratch for Monday’s game after playing five consecutive contests, while Conor Sheary returned to action after being out since December 21.

As for the men’s ice hockey roster for the 2026 Olympics, it’s set to be announced on Wednesday. Sullivan noted that discussions among U.S. team management will take place shortly. Fox and Miller are both striving to play, despite their current injuries.

When asked how injuries might impact their chances, Sullivan stated there’s a process in place for such situations. If a player gets injured later, the opportunity exists to add someone to the roster. He emphasized that all players’ performances over time will be considered in these decisions.

The Rangers experienced their 12th overtime game of the season on Monday night. Over the last 14 games, they’ve been pushed beyond 60 minutes seven times, compiling a record of 7 wins and 5 losses in overtime and shootouts.