Ovechkin’s coach, new partners and a shaved head. Five reasons why Panarin is so good this season

Artemy targets Gilbert’s record

When I gave a prediction for the Rangers vs. Detroit game, they said to me, “You think the home team is going to win at Madison Square Garden, but the Red Wings are extremely good this season, and the New Yorkers also have Igor injured. “Shesterkin.”

And what did we see? After two periods, the Rangers crushed Detroit with a score of 5-0! In the middle of the match, in the 28th minute, Artemiy Panarin participated in a power play combination completed by a long-range throw from defender Erik Gustafsson, whose shot from the spot was corrected by Chris Kreider.

And five minutes later, Panarin himself scored when, at even strength, Alexi Lafrenière passed him a pass behind the goal. And with a well-aimed throw, Khlebushek shot at Detroit goalie Ville Husso.

In the third period, the Rangers relaxed, which is understandable. Even power forward Klim Kostin, who still doesn’t have much confidence in the Motor City, scored his first goal of the season – Kostin got 10.15 minutes of playing time, which seems good considering the usual five minutes on the ice.

But Detroit failed to mount an epic comeback and the Rangers were victorious (5:3). Panarin scores points in his team’s starting 12 games. He already has 20 (7+13) points. In the long history of the New York club, only forward Rod Gilbert, who opened the 1972/73 season with a streak of 14 consecutive matches in which he scored 23 points, achieved a similar feat.

The Rangers still have two home games ahead of them: against Minnesota and Columbus. Panarin therefore has a chance to repeat Gilbert’s club record.

Laviolette found a new look for Bread

We always knew Artemi Panarin was a great striker. But this season he is playing at a higher level than usual. We cite five reasons why this happened.

1. The New York Rangers have changed coaches.

Gérard Galland, with whom the Broadway Boys lost in the first round against New Jersey last season (3-4), left the team. It was painful. Peter Laviolette arrived, who himself had failed with Washington. But the capital’s team has somewhat lost its bearings, late in restructuring. It’s cool that Alexander Ovechkin is chasing Wayne Gretzky’s record, but the Capitals roster has been falling apart on its own, and Laviolette wasn’t the only reason for the once-glorious club’s decline.

The 58-year-old American coach ranks eighth in NHL history in terms of number of victories. He won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006. He led his teams to the finals twice: Philadelphia (2010) and Nashville (2017). Overall, he is an experienced and progressive guy who knows what he expects from his ice hockey players.

2. Panarin was replaced by three

Artemy plays in the second line, as before. Only now Laviolette dismantled the Kid Line – the three young people, first putting Lafrenière and Filip Hytil in Khlebushka.

This comes after No. 1 draft pick Alexi Lafreniere was moved from left wing to right wing – just on the opposite side of Panarin, who plays on the left himself. True, it must be said that Khytil did not play against Detroit, and Vincent Trocheck replaced him on the line. But Panarin did even better with him.

And now the young people have taken a step forward, entering the top 6. And being part of the same team with the great distributor Panarin is a gift for everyone. Artemy creates scoring chances for his partners wonderfully, and they also give him great passes.

If I remember correctly, Panarin’s father-in-law Oleg Znarok once told me that Rangers did not use Artemy very effectively, because they put him in the second line and his partners could be better. Now the effectiveness of the Theme is increasing before our eyes. His partners are Lafrenière and Trocheck, who is more defensively focused and good at faceoffs, is what he needs.

3. Panarin started throwing more

Last season, Artemy made 204 shots in 82 league matches (average 2.49), scoring 92 (29+63) points. Which was really cool. In general, for the third time at the Rangers, he danced around a hundred: he had 95 (32+63), 96 (22+74), and now 92 points. Additionally, the number of assists far exceeded the number of goals. In other words, Panarin played more for his partners.

But now, Panarin has thrown 44 times in 12 games: an average of 3.67 times. Artemy started throwing a lot more! And now he has 20 (7+13) points. He is on pace to score 137 points this season! And the goal ratio has increased. That is, the Russian attacker began to take more initiatives. And why think about who would be better at scoring goals in a trio if Panarin himself can do it perfectly?

4. Panarin plays with the stars

At the same time, Artemy plays with the brightest and most experienced attackers of Rangers – Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, who play with him in the majority first team. They also add Trocheck and Gustafsson, who replaces the injured Adam Fox.

And what do we see? Panarin scored half of his points (10) on the power play! That is, Artemy acts as if in two links: sometimes in equal compositions, sometimes predominantly with Zibanejad and Kreider. And such variability only benefits Khlebushka.

5. Panarin himself has changed significantly

After the game, Laviolette was asked what he thought of Artemy’s aggressive forecheck, which actively uses power moves and tackling the puck.

“All three played very well: Trocheck, Lafrenière and Panarin,” said the coach. “I like this unit and what it does on the ice. We talk a lot about how we can play better, how to use our opportunities better and not lose the initiative. As in the third period, we allowed the opponent to enter our goal. Well, this trio is great and they play at a good pace.

Laviolette also added about Panarin: “Tonight is a great example. Artemy picked up the puck and attacked on the move. His aim was to attack. When he moves and attacks, he becomes very dangerous. He has elite skills. »

A reporter approached Panarin in the locker room and congratulated him on his forecheck. He laughed, “I’m glad someone saw that, haha.” Usually you just look for my mistakes. We feel good with each other. Our line, all five guys play forecheck, and that makes us look good (Laughs)”.

Moreover, Artemy himself has come to his senses, and this is evident not only from his hair – already a bare scalp instead of playful curls. Panarin understands that he is already in his 33rd year and that he doesn’t have many chances left to win the Stanley Cup. And you can’t fail like that in the playoffs when you’re one of the highest paid hockey players in the NHL.

For these five reasons, Artemy Panarin is now in the top 5 of the best scorers in the championship, thus claiming the eternal record for the Gilbert club. He started this championship very well. Now we have to see how he finishes it.