Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers celebrates his second...

Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2021. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett

In the two games he’s played since rejoining the team after his leave of absence, Artemi Panarin has clearly demonstrated just how much of a dynamic difference-maker he is for the Rangers. On Monday, the Russian winger had a goal and two assists, nearly enough to lift his team to a win despite the absence of three key players because of COVID-19 protocols.

Afterward, speaking to the media for the first time since he left the team Feb. 22 after the publication of an article in Russia in which his former KHL coach accused him of hitting a woman in a hotel bar in Latvia in 2011, Panarin declined to address the story or his decision to leave the team for 2 1⁄2 weeks after it came out.

"It’s probably not the time to discuss it right now,’’ Panarin said through interpreter Nick Bobrov, the Rangers’ director of European scouting. "I have nothing to hide. I will address everything after the season. But right now, the focus is on the game.’’

Panarin missed nine games, and the Rangers went 4-5. They beat the Bruins, 4-0, in his first game back, and against the Flyers, Panarin scored the Blueshirts’ first goal, then assisted on the next two as they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead late in the second period.

They lost in overtime, 5-4, and Panarin was on the ice for Jakub Voracek’s winning goal. On the play, Rangers goaltender Keith Kinkaid tried to send a long pass to Panarin at center ice. Voracek read the play and jumped in front of Panarin, stealing the puck and beating Kinkaid on a breakaway.

Panarin took the blame for the goal.

"I saw what was happening and I was trying to chip the puck by Voracek,’’ he said. "I saw that one of their players was changing and we would have an odd-man rush, so I took a risk. It was a calculated risk. But I hit his shin pad and then he was gone.’’

Kinkaid starts

With Igor Shesterkin sidelined by a groin injury and Alexandar Georgiev struggling, Long Islander Kinkaid started his second straight game in goal Monday. He allowed the five goals on 30 shots.

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