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Puempel to make Rangers debut today

Matt Puempel

Matt Puempel

AP

Big Black Friday for Matt Puempel.

Puempel, the former first-round pick the Rangers claimed off waivers from Ottawa this week, will make his Blueshirts debut this afternoon in a Black Friday matinee against the Flyers (1 p.m. ET, on NBC).

He’ll likely debut on the club’s fourth line, alongside Josh Jooris and Jesper Fast. Oscar Lindberg will be in the press box to make room.

Prior to getting claimed, Puempel, 23, appeared in 13 games for the Sens, going scoreless with a minus-5 rating. In 52 career NHL contests, he’s scored just four goals and six points.

A former OHL standout, Puempel was a quality goalscoring winger in junior, and carried that over to the American League. In his first full year with AHL Binghamton, he found the back of the net 30 times in 74 games -- but that form hasn’t translated to the big league level.