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Return of the Mac: Rangers captain McDonagh in today vs. Flyers

New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens

New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens

NHLI via Getty Images

Mac is back.

Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh -- out since Nov. 1 with a separated shoulder -- will return to action today when the Blueshirts take on the Flyers at Wells Fargo in the Thanksgiving Showdown (NBC, 1 p.m. ET). McDonagh draws back in for the first time in 11 games and will take the place of John Moore, who sits as a healthy scratch.

Getting the captain back is a big development for New York.

Alain Vigneault’s club has been working with a patchwork defense all year, and today’s game will mark the first time the Rangers have been able to ice a top-six of McDonagh, Dan Boyle, Kevin Klein, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal and Matt Hunwick (who has jumped Moore on the depth chart); Boyle missed extensive time this season with a broken hand while Klein was out briefly with a foot injury.

As such, Staal and Girardi are the only two defensemen to have played in all 21 of New York’s games this season.