DETROIT — If you thought the five points Artemi Panarin put up through the first four games of last season foreshadowed his 120-point campaign, the possibilities for the 2024-25 season could be endless after the star Russian wing upped his total to 11 over the same span.
Rising higher and higher game after game, the Breadman delivered a hat trick and a four-point effort in the Rangers’ 5-2 dismantling of the Red Wings on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
It was a standout performance for Panarin, who already has four exceptional showings.
A smiling Artemi Panarin (right) celebrates with Vincent Trocheck after scoring one of his three goals in the Rangers’ win over the Red Wings on Oct. 17, 2024.
“I was feeling good,” Panarin told The Post after the win. “The first two shots go in for me and then after, of course, you’re feeling great. We have so many power plays, too, which gives you the puck a lot.”
Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere have led the Rangers in their offensive onslaught to start the season, during which the team has racked up 13 five-on-five goals and 20 in total.
The line is always on the attack, and Thursday night was no different.
Panarin, who became the first player in franchise history to record multiple points in each of the first four games of a season, has been the driver.
Facing Detroit for the second time in four days, the Rangers got the blood pumping early by surviving 3:18 of shorthanded ice time in the first period, which included a 42-second, 5-on-3 Red Wings power play.
The Rangers’ penalty kill has only given up two power-play goals so far, having fended off 13 of the 15 man-advantage stretches they’ve faced.
Artemi Panarin (right), who had a hat trick, celebrates with Alexis Lafreniere after scoring a goal in the first period of the Rangers’ win.
They defended 3 of 4 on Thursday, after allowing one late in the third, but the early shorthanded success quickly created offense.
“I like the fact that we were faced with a little bit of adversity to start the game in the first period,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “Penalty killers did a really good job. I liked the response that we scored right after it was over.”
Taking a cross-ice feed from Trocheck, Panarin wristed it home to get the Rangers on the board at the 8:30 mark of the opening frame.
Panarin then doubled the Rangers score on the power play later in the first period, picking the top corner just over 10 seconds into the man advantage.
Jonathan Quick makes a save on Simon Edvinsson during the Rangers’ win.
It was ultimately Panarin’s first of three points on the power play Thursday night, after the Blueshirts went 3-for-4.
“Special player making plays” Trocheck said of Panarin. “He makes the power play so much more lethal having him out there. He’s a dangerous player when he’s got the puck. It makes it a lot easier on us, opens up the ice a ton.”
As effective as Panarin was, Trocheck was right beside him with a four-point performance of his own. The two had a hand in four of the Rangers five goals.
After Trocheck got a stick on a Panarin shot for a power-play goal and the 3-1 Rangers lead in the second period, the latter blasted a one-timer — also with the man advantage — to give his team a comfortable three-goal lead.
A member of the Red Wings ice crew picks up hats off the ice after Artemi Panarin completed the hat trick in the Rangers’ win.
Victor Mancini later recorded his first NHL goal to cap the Rangers’ scoring, which effectively ended Detroit goalie Cam Talbot’s night and brought in Alex Lyon.
Not only does Panarin have a four-game point streak, but Lafreniere does, too.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 draft has collected two goals and three assists, while Trocheck jumped to two goals and four assists after Thursday night’s win.
It’s difficult to imagine Panarin having a better season than last, but another year of building chemistry with Trocheck and Lafreniere could make it happen.
The trio is already making the most of a projected full season together.
