Panarin – tied with Gretzky and Buchnevich
Artemi Panarin approached the celebration of its 31st birthday with taste. He scored one goal, scored three points (1+2) and became the second star of the game against Arizona (3:2). And it is very important that after an unimaginable run of four consecutive defeats, Rangers have managed to win for the second time in a row. That is to say, the team is back on the path to victory.
It’s rarely done in hockey, but Igor Shesterkin played the second game in two days. This happened to him for the second time in his NHL career. And he took the win again, making 18 saves. In total, he has played seven games since the start of the championship, and in each of them the Rangers have scored at least one point (5-0-2). So, the day before with “Dallas” (6:3), he made 30 saves.
“Shesterkin looked great. Two games in two days? Maybe one day he will start again,” said Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant. It’s always difficult to play twice in a row. But Igor played very reliably.
The score was 2-2 until the end of the third period, until Mika Zibanejad knocked the door wide in the 53rd minute.
“Panarin played very well there,” said Zibanejad. “When he passed the puck to Kreider and gave it to me, I was just trying to get to the net.”
Incidentally, the Rangers have scored nine power-play goals in 10 games this season, the fourth most in the league. And this is one of the strengths of New Yorkers.
Curiously, Panarin, who turned 31 on Sunday, became only the third player in Rangers history to score three points on his birthday in the last 30 years. He was tied with Pavel Buchnevich (three goals on April 17, 2021) and Wayne Gretzky (three assists on January 26, 1999).
This man knows how to celebrate his holidays!
“It almost ruined our relationship!”
“After the game, I spoke to the birthday boy, who was in hilarious form as usual,” says journalist Vince Mercogliano. – I tell him: “You probably really wanted to earn three points on your birthday.” He smiles and replies, “Well, I’m a good guy. I just wanted my team to win.”
“You gave a great pass to Alexi Lafrenier there…” I continue.
Yes, he almost missed it! Panarin was pictorially indignant. “It would ruin our relationship!”
If we talk about the race for the NHL’s leading scorers, Khlebusek is in third place (5 + 11 = 16 points), behind only David Pastrnak of Boston (7 + 10 = 17) and Connor McDavid of Edmonton (9 +9 =18).
And if you take NHL history, only 10 Rangers players have scored 16 points in the first 10 games of the season. The first of them are Pavel Bure (18) in the 2001/02 season and Jaromir Jagr (18) in the 2006/07 season.
And more on communicating with journalists. They say to Panarin: “Well, cool number 31?”
He replies, “Yes. Igor says that’s a good number.”
Just Shesterkin performs at number 31.
Panarin can take the record away from Kucherov
“I played in the same line with Panarin, and it’s more of a gift for me, even if I don’t celebrate my birthday,” Lafrenier said. And he still did a good job. I’ve said many times that when playing on the same line with Artemy, just keep the stick on the ice, and you’ll be fine.
Yes, the puck will come there on its own.
Interestingly, if Panarin himself continues in the same spirit, he will score 123 points for the season. This will be his phenomenal record!
And remember that Nikita Kucherov recently scored 128 points for the championship, updating the eternal Russian NHL record, which previously belonged to Alexander Mogilny (127). Thus, Panarin can now aim for Kucherov’s success if he continues in the same spirit.
I have to say the game was at Mullett Arena – Arizona is playing there now. It is a university palace with only 5,000 seats, and various competitions are held here – from women’s gymnastics to men’s wrestling. Videos from the guest locker room have already leaked on the network, and so far it looks like the students have arrived somewhere down the road in the college league. A colorful place, and it certainly reminded Panarin of the days when he performed at the five thousand in Chekhov.
“As it was dry and hot outside and the cacti were growing, but in the sea of blue sweaters that so delighted the New York psyche, it felt like the Rangers were playing at home,” wrote the one of the fans who knocked. “New York natives who traveled west for a warmer climate, and those who just flew in on this big day, shouted loudly, ‘Go Rangers!’
The stadium was noisy, as befits an institution with 5,000 spectators. From the $25 seats in the bleachers, walking down the cramped hallway, it was impossible not to feel like you were back at a high school party.
And let’s end the story with the fact that Artemy Panarin, at the dawn of his NHL career, took it as a fashion to play on his birthday. Admittedly, he never scored on October 30. 2016 – game with Minnesota (0 + 1), 2017 – with Los Angeles (0 + 1), 2018 – with Boston (without points), 2019 – with Detroit (without points).
And now Khlebushek celebrated his birthday as it should be. Our congratulations!
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
