Artemi Panarin rescues two points for the New York Rangers in win over Florida Panthers
This game is best summed up in two words. Artemi. Panarin. The New York Ranger star would score twice and grab the shootout winner as the Rangers would come back from two down in the first and a late deficit to take the two points against the Florida Panthers. He needs to win the league MVP because he has been so good this year, but that is a different conversation for a different time.
Florida would open the scoring when they were able to work the puck back to the point. Carter Verhaeghe sent it back to Josh Mahura. His shot was tipped in the slot by Matthew Tkachuk and into the back of the Ranger net as the Cats flashed their claws early in this one. Halfway through the first period, the Rangers were chasing the game, and a spot at the top of the NHL standings.
In the second period, Florida would work another chance, Uvis Balinskis would get the puck up the ice for Sam Reinhart on a rush for the Panthers. With a wide open man at the back post, he fires it across to Eeru Luostarinen, who was once traded for Vincent Trocheck which is a neat fact. He doubled the Panthers lead and the Rangers were up against it now. This Cats team doesn't blow leads, so New York's stars needed to stand up.
Adam Fox would answer the call as he so often does. Fox got it back from Vincent Trocheck on the powerplay before walking down the middle of the ice. With no one closing him down, he ripped it home past Sergei Bobrovsky, and the Garden came to life. It had to be the powerplay that got the Rangers back into it, and the hometown kid was always going to be the one to score it. Now, it's game on once again.
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From then on, we watched the Garden become a playground for Artemi Panarin. Fox won a board battle that got the puck out to Panarin, who got it to Trocheck. Trocheck sent it back to the Russian winger, and the Breadman one-timed the Rangers back into this game. New York had the momentum and it was a perfect shot into the top corner from a knee by the Breadman, but it wasn't over yet.
With less than 5 minutes to go in the game, Florida would get the lead back. Brandon Montour received a puck from Matthew Tkachuk and got it down to Carter Verhaghae. He was able to beat Igor Shesterkin and restore the Panther lead. Now, the clock was against the Rangers as they fought back in this one.
Someone needed to come forward for the Rangers. Someone needed to be a star. Zac Jones got the puck at the point before giving it back to Panarin. Panarin's shot bounced off former Ranger Niko Mikkola and then off the skate of Kevin Stenlund before finding the back of the net. His 43rd goal and 99th point of the season as the Rangers Hart Trophy candidate stole the show on Broadway.
We were tied at the end of regulation and the extra frame didn't solve anything so to the shootout we go. Mika Zibanejad struck first, but Sam Reinhart kept the game alive for the Panthers. Panarin himself would score the winner before Shesterkin made the game winning stop on Vladimir Tarasenko as the former Ranger gave his old team the extra point in this one.