New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin is on pace to shatter his career high in shots and goals. What's led to the uptick?

NEW YORK, NY -- New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has been lethal this season.

With 27 goals in 42 games, the 32-year-old Russian forward is on pace to shatter his career-high (32), currently on pace to finish north of 52.

His latest goal gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead early in their 2-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon to help snap a four-game slide, earning his 400th point in a Rangers' sweater. 

Panarin is the fastest player in Rangers history to reach that milestone. 

It's not rocket science that to rack up goals, shooting has to be a focal point of the equation. Panarin has shot the puck when an opportunity has presented itself, as he's on pace to surpass his career-high of 228 by Game 54.

He's racked up 177 shots through 42 games, an average of 4.2 shots per, which projects to 346 over an 82-game season.

What's changed for the gifted forward, who is only six goals shy of his career-high in 27 fewer games?

It starts with the mindset that first-year Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has instilled in Panarin and his linemates Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin. 

"Just play offense. Make plays trying to win," Lafreniere said following Sunday's win. "You get a chance to shoot, try shooting, and have guys at the net for rebounds and stuff like that. Just try to keep it simple and play hard."

The Hockey News asked Lafreniere if he's noticed anything specifically in Panarin's game that's allowed him to rack up shots at such a high rate. 

"He's trying to get open in good areas," the 22-year-old forward told THN. "He's got a really good shot. He's a good playmaker, but his shot is really, really good, too. So yeah, every time he gets looks, he's good enough to put it in the back of the net."

Panarin credited the higher shot volume to a few things: Playing with Patrick Kane last season and Lafreniere's play this season.

"Usually, when I was playing with [Patrick] Kane, I was shooting a lot because he gave me that opportunity," Panarin told THN's Matt Mugno back at the end of November. 

As for how Lafreniere has changed the game for Panarin: 

"Playing with Laffy right now, he can take it back in the zone, and it gives me an extra second," Panarin said. "I have the right guy to give me an extra second to get to the goal and to the net.

"Usually, when you're carrying through the neutral zone, one or two guys jump on you right away. From the couch, it's easy to say, 'Shoot the puck!' but that's why I'd pass it. Now I have the opportunity to get open."

Panarin's goal to kick off Sunday's scoring came off the rush, as Panarin wasted no time to get the shot off. 

When THN brought up to Laviolette that Panarin was on pace for a new career-high in shots, he was thrilled to hear it. 

"Well, I'm happy about that," Laviolette said postgame. "I mean, I think him putting the puck on net is a good thing. I think he has a great shot. I think he places it. I think some people just shoot the puck and try to get it between the red pipes, and then there are other people who actually shoot it, and they know where it's going. He's one of those guys for me.  

"So, the fact that he is firing is a good thing. I mean, there's obviously an emphasis on shooting, but there's also an emphasis on finding the plays that need to be made, and I think that's where that line does some really good things, even the power play -- because that's part of his shots -- the power play, I think feeds off of each other, reads off of each other and then deliver the puck on the net after they've made the plays."

The line of Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere sits first in the NHL in attempted shots with 514 and has been on the ice for 22 goals, eighth-most in the NHL, per MoneyPuck.com. 

"I think they work. I think they really work hard for each other," Laviolette said on his second line as a whole, "especially when they're on the attack and when they're in the offensive zone. 

"I think that there's a chemistry there between the three of them and no one where they make little plays. They make small area plays that are all talented and skilled and yet a little bit different. And you know, they're there. They're really dangerous. They're a dangerous line there. They're probably one of the most dangerous in the NHL with regard to creating"

Then Laviolette went back to that mindset. 

"There's obviously an emphasis on shooting, but there's also an emphasis on finding the plays that need to be made, and I think that's where that line does some really good things, even the power play -- because that's part of his shots --  the power play, I think feeds off of each other, reads off of each other and then deliver the puck on the net after they've made the plays."

Not all of Panarin's goals have come at 5-on-5, as he's scored eight of the Rangers' 37 power-play goals this season, the second-best power-play in the NHL at 28.2 percent.

His 54 power-play shots sit fifth in the NHL. 

"He's shooting the puck way more but I think it's when he's shooting the puck,. I think now he's choosing to shoot the puck as a first option when it's available and that hasn't always been the case," former Ranger and NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp told THN. "So, I think what it's doing is open up so much for him now because it's almost like he's becoming a dual threat. He's always had a good shot but I think that because he's establishing it early, now that's opening up some other things for him and him. 

"Of course, when the pucks go in, you start shooting the puck more as well, but I wonder how much of that was a conscious decision by him. Bread's always been incredible -- we know this -- but he's always been one that when he gets it, he's a pass-first guy and I think he's been a little bit more of a hybrid. There's times he's shot first and I think it's made a huge difference."

What Panarin does so well, especially in the offensive zone, is that he's always moving, always trying to find ways to exploit the defense. The great players in this league rarely wait for opportunities but instead create them, and this season, he's done that for the Rangers.

One player's game isn't going to fix all the problems the Rangers have dealt with over their recent stretch, but Panarin continuing to be effective and not trying to do too much to counteract the clubs' struggles is why he's able to have continual success and in part, will pay dividends when the Rangers re-find their early season form.