The Disappearing Act of Artemi Panarin in the Eastern Conference Final
Artemi Panarin, the star player for the New York Rangers, had a difficult time finding the back of the net in the Eastern Conference Final. Despite his impressive performance in the first half of the playoffs, Panarin struggled to produce goals when it mattered most. In Game 6 against the Florida Panthers, Panarin finally scored a goal, but it was too late to make a difference as the Rangers lost 2-1.
Panarin’s goal in Game 6 marked his first goal since Game 3 of the second round, ending an eight-game drought. Throughout the series against the Panthers, the Rangers’ offense consistently struggled, and Panarin’s lack of production was a significant factor. However, it’s important to note that Panarin wasn’t the only star player who failed to perform in the conference finals. Three-fifths of the Rangers’ top power play unit also failed to score, and Chris Kreider only managed one goal.
Panarin acknowledged that the Panthers had more time in the Rangers’ zone than vice versa. He mentioned that the team played conservatively, but the Panthers’ pressure-oriented playing style worked against them. Despite the potential for odd-man rushes, the Panthers defended well throughout the series.
Although Panarin had a couple of decent chances in Game 6, they were few and far between. He was largely shut down by the Panthers’ defense throughout the six games. Fortunately for Panarin, his linemates Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck stepped up and picked up the offensive slack. Their line put up passable numbers in the series and shielded Panarin from much criticism.
Overall, this season was Panarin’s best as a Ranger and one of the best in the NHL. He recorded 120 regular-season points and would have been a top contender for the Hart Trophy if not for other players having exceptional seasons. Panarin’s playoff performance, however, did not mirror his regular-season success.
In the end, Panarin expressed his disappointment with the outcome of Game 6 and the series as a whole. He acknowledged that one goal could have changed everything but accepted that there was nothing more they could do at that point.
The Eastern Conference Final was a challenging series for Artemi Panarin, and his lack of scoring ultimately hindered the Rangers’ chances of advancing. Despite this setback, Panarin’s performance throughout the season solidified his status as one of the league’s top players, and there is no doubt that he will bounce back stronger in the future.
