New York Rangers left winger Artemi Panarin will be out to extend his four-game multi-point scoring streak Saturday night against the host Toronto Maple Leafs.
Panarin had three goals and an assist Thursday night when the Rangers opened a three-game road trip with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
Panarin became the first Rangers player with multiple points in each of the first four games of a season.
“I didn’t know that, but that’s awesome,” Panarin said. “I’m going to try to keep that going.”
He has five goals and six assists to help the Rangers start the season with a 3-0-1 record.
The only other active player with 11 points in his team’s first four games of the season was Edmonton Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid (six goals, five assists) in 2021-22.
New York’s past two wins have come against the Red Wings, and the special teams were particularly effective on Thursday.
The Rangers were 3-for-4 with the man advantage and 4-for-5 in killing penalties. They held off Detroit’s five-on-three advantage for 42 seconds in the first period.
“I liked that we faced some early adversity with the penalty kill and responded so well,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “The power play was good all night and the penalty kill was big early in the game.”
Panarin notched two of his goals and his assist on the power play.
“Special player making plays,” said Vincent Trocheck, who had a goal and three assists. “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.”
The Maple Leafs will try to extend their winning streak to four games after defeating the Los Angeles Kings 6-2 on Wednesday. Toronto is halfway through a four-game homestand.
In the win over Los Angeles, Toronto captain Auston Matthews recorded his first three points of the season with a goal and two assists.
The goal was the 200th on home ice for Matthews, the fourth player in team history to do so after Darryl Sittler (231), Dave Keon (225) and Mats Sundin (217).
According to NHL Stats, Matthews is the 11th active player to score 200 home goals and became the quickest (279 games) to reach the plateau. He bettered Washington Capitals star captain Alex Ovechkin (321 games).
Matthews has 369 career goals overall.
“He might feed off that energy at home, everything is a little more familiar,” said teammate Bobby McMann, who scored twice on Wednesday.
McMann has been playing on a line with Max Domi and William Nylander since Saturday in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The line has provided Toronto a spark. Nylander had a goal and an assist on Wednesday, and Domi added two assists.
“We’ve got a lot of speed, creating a lot of chances,” Nylander said. “I think we’re playing great and love the chemistry that we have.”
Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll has not played a game this season but has been working toward a return.
“A little bit of groin tightness and feeling better now,” he said. “I’m just focused on coming back and helping this team.”
–Field Level Media