Why Artemi Panarin is Entering Legacy Defining Game for Rangers

The key to a conference finals birth for the Rangers will be on the shoulders of Artemi Panarin.

If the New York Rangers are to close out their second round series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, the team will need Artemi Panarin to step up in a big way.

All season long Panarin has been the anchor of this Rangers team, leading New York to win the Presidents’ Trophy.

The 32-year-old had a career year as he put up 49 goals, 71 assists and 120 points while averaging 20:07 minutes of icetime.

The Rangers breezed past their first round series against the Washington Capitals and at first it was looking as if New York would do the same thing to Carolina.

Through the first three games of the series, Panarin was phenomenal. He had two goals, four assists and six points, helping the Rangers take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

The Russian superstar couldn’t be stopped and was not only producing points himself, but propelling his linemates, specifically Alexis Lafrenière who had five points over those three games.

Suddenly though, Panarin went cold and so did the Rangers.

Panarin failed to record a single point in Games 4 and 5. Can you guess what happened? New York lost both games and their series lead has diminished to just 3-2 with the Hurricanes holding all of the momentum.

In Game 5, the Rangers’ offense was nonexistent, which led to a brutal 4-1 loss at Madison Square Garden.

When it comes to thriving offensively, Panarin has been the Rangers’ leading catalyst and that has to be the case on Thursday night for Game 6.

It will have to be Panarin who leads the charge and really sets the tone for New York because he is arguably the best player on the ice for either team, so he can dictate an entire game.

The playoffs are where superstars are born and it’s time for Panarin to show what he is truly capable of.