Rangers resort to failed old form during loss to Kings in Artemi Panarins return
After all that, after points in eight of nine games following the Olympic break and a four-game winning streak, the Rangers are back.That much became clear during a 4-1 loss to the Kings on Monday night at the Garden, where the return of Artemi Panarin following his trade last month was just about all that Blueshirts fans had to cheer for most of the game.Boos echoed through the Garden again at the end of the second period.
They had as many shots on goal through two frames (nine) as the Kings had blocked shots.If the past three weeks served as the Rangers teasing that they might’ve somehow, finally, in the most too-little-too-late way possible, turned a corner, this loss served as a reality check.
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.It was fitting, in a way, that all this unfolded with Panarin back on Broadway for the first time since becoming the major domino to fall after The Letter 2.0.
Rangers fans cheered for him at the end of warmups, when, from near center ice, he flipped a puck into the Kings net and then the Rangers net and then veered toward the tunnel.They gave him an ovation again during the first timeout, when a tribute played on the scoreboard to welcome back the former franchise cornerstone who arrived as a marquee free agent in 2019 and then matched expectations for the next six-plus seasons.Mike Sullivan knew it would be an emotional game.
All the Rangers did.That’s what happens in these situations.
Panarin even picked up an assist on the first goal of the game, when Drew Doughty’s shot from the point found its way through a cluster of traffic and past Igor Shesterkin.The Rangers had their chances, even if the shot attempts didn’t rack up and they failed to score three goals in a game for the first time this month.Gabe Perreault nearly ripped a shot past Darcy Kuemper in the first period.
Jaroslav Chmelar made a strong move t...