.Jackson Blake of the Carolina Hurricanes said he has his family in town for Thanksgiving and plans to enjoy his two favorite foods: stuffing and pumpkin pie.

It should all make for a joyous time together, and with a lot to talk about when then the subject is hockey and Wednesday’s game against the New York Rangers at Lenovo Center.

With the Blake family watching, the rookie forward had the winning goal as the Canes rallied past the Rangers for a 4-3 victory that was their ninth straight win at home.

With the Canes (16-5-1) on the power play, against the second-ranked penalty-killing team in the league, Blake found himself unchecked in the slot, settled the puck and ripped a shot that beat goalie Igor Shesterkin for a 4-3 lead with 7:59 left in regulation.

“I was a little surprised. I took a little peek to see if anyone was next to me,” Blake said. “I kind of picked my spot and fortunately it went in.”

The final two minutes of regulation, ending a fast-paced and at times testy game, were exciting and had the crowd at full throat. The Rangers (12-8-1) pulled Shesterkin for a sixth attacker, but could not get the tying goal against goalie Spencer Martin.

Carolina’s Jack Drury was named the game’s first star after scoring the game’s first goal and later assisting on Blake’s goal. Blake, who scored his seventh goal in a promising first season, was selected the second star.

A few weeks ago, Blake said the start of the season was a bit “surreal” playing against the likes of a Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

And now, after 22 games?

“I don’t think I’ll ever not feel that way, at least this year,” he said, smiling. “I’m still nervous before games.”

Blake plays against Panarin

This night, it was flashy forward Artemi Panarin on the other side. As a rookie in the NHL, it can be a star player in the other lineup every night that you can measure yourself up against.

“This is unreal, to be playing against a guy like Panarin, one of the best at his position,” Blake said. “It’s unbelievable. I’m super blessed to be here.”

Blake had a turnover in the defensive zone earlier in the game that was costly, setting up the Rangers’ first goal, by Jonny Brodzinski. But he shook off the gaffe, later using his quickness and shiftiness to draw two penalties against the Rangers.

“He’s got a lot of confidence,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

So do the Hurricanes, even after having goalie Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov sidelined with injuries. But Spencer Martin has taken over in net, starting and winning his second straight game Wednesday.

The Hurricanes also have Seth Jarvis back from an upper-body injury and the winger scored again Wednesday. With one second left in a power play early in the second period, he was open backdoor for his second goal in as many games.

Martin Necas has the primary assist on the Jarvis goal, taking over the NHL scoring lead with 36 points. That was noted on the scoreboard during a break, drawing no emotion from a poker-faced Necas on the bench.

The Canes opened the week with a five-goal explosion Monday in beating the Dallas Stars, 6-4. The game Wednesday between the Metro Division rivals was more about sticking with it, shift after shift, and making the Rangers work in their end.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi tied the score 3-3 midway through the third with a wraparound shot that Shesterkin could not stop. Then, Blake’s goal.

The Canes were solid on the back end, again led by defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who was not one of the game’s three stars but could have been.

“You expect greatness every night and that’s basically what you watch,” Brind’Amour said of his veteran D-man. “Great plays, he stacks it one after another.”

The Rangers ousted the Canes from the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, winning Game 6 in the second round to end Carolina’s season as Chris Kreider had a hat trick. But it’s a new season.

Kreider, the subject of much trade talk in New York, was a scratch Wednesday. The Rangers have been slumping, losing four in a row.

Blake spent time in the Canes’ locker room with his little brother by his side after the game. Later would come a talk with his father, former NHL forward Jason Blake, who Jackson said would be sure to again critique his play.

And then Thanksgiving, together, with plenty of stuffing and pie.