BOSTON — Artemi Panarin is back where he belongs: leading the Rangers in goals and points.
After his two-point effort in the Blueshirts’ 4-2 win over the Hurricanes on Wednesday night, which included an assist on the game-winner, Panarin has collected 15 points (five goals and 10 assists) in the last 11 games.
The star Russian wing is tied with Adam Fox for the most points (22), as well as in a three-way tie for the most goals (seven) with Mika Zibanejad and Will Cuylle.
“Obviously, it’s a big goal at the end of the second, on the road, having that lead going in, it gives you all that little bit more confidence,” captain J.T. Miller, Panarin’s linemate Wednesday night, said of the star Russian wing’s tally at the end of the second period that gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. “Especially, like I said, we don’t think we had our best. And then in the third, that’s a big-time play. I think he had two or three guys on him, and it’s what he’s capable of. You know, those are situations where we need us guys to step up and make a play right there, to give us a little breathing room in that game. And that’s what he did. It was nice to see him making plays.”
Logging a team-high 13:13 of five-on-five ice time in the victory, Panarin, Miller and Vincent Trocheck outscored opponents 2-1 despite getting out-attempted 6-4 Wednesday night, per Natural Stat Trick.
It marked the second game the trio skated together, after head coach Mike Sullivan put them together last week in Colorado.
Miller, who returned from an upper-body injury Wednesday, is riding a season-high three-game point streak.
Over that span, he has two goals and two assists.
“You can see the influence he has on the group,” Sullivan said of Miller. “He’s just strong on pucks. He has a poise to how he plays the game, his confidence. I think when he’s in our lineup, we’re certainly a much better team. And I think that influence was on display today.”
Fox has recorded at least one assist in four straight games, which is tied for the fifth-longest active streak among NHL defensemen this season.
Over that span, the 27-year-old blueliner has six helpers.
His 22 points so far this season put him in a five-way tie for the third most in the NHL among defensemen.
Rookie defenseman Matthew Robertson notched his first career point with an assist on Noah Laba’s 1-0 score in Wednesday night’s win.
The Rangers recalled defenseman Scott Morrow from the Wolf Pack on Thursday.
In a corresponding move, Connor Mackey was returned to Hartford.
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