The New York Rangers returned from their long layoff, kicking off a hectic schedule with a 4-2 win over the Red Wings at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Rangers came into tonight’s game fresh off a nine-day break, but it did not seem to affect their play too much. Although it was not a completely dominating effort for the Rangers, they managed to control most of the game and kept the chances coming.
Artemi Panarin returned to the lineup after missing the January 21 match-up against the Islanders due to an upper-body injury, and made sure that his mark was made. He registered one goal and one assist, upping his point total on the season to 70 points. This milestone makes him the third undrafted player in NHL history to register at least 70 points in his first five seasons in the league.
The other two players to do it? Wayne Gretzky and Peter Stastny.
Panarin’s achievement was not the only milestone that occurred this game. In fact, there were several others.
Mika Zibanejad recorded his 200th point as a New York Ranger. It took Zibanejad 246 games to accomplish this feat, giving him 0.81 points per game.
Tony DeAngelo also recorded his 26th assist of the season, which ties his career-high. He has already set new personal bests in goals and points.
Finally, this was the first time since Apr. 9, 2017 that the Rangers did not commit a single penalty. That is 212 games in a row in which the Rangers committed at least one penalty.
With this win, the Rangers improve to 24-21-4 with 52 points, and still sit in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division.