The Rangers' Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his goal with Jacob...

The Rangers' Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his goal with Jacob Trouba, K'Andre Miller, Pavel Buchnevich and Mika Zibanejad during the second period of an NHL game against the Bruins on Saturday in Boston. Credit: AP/Michael Dwyer

Artemi Panarin returned to the lineup Saturday afternoon, and instantly, all was well in the Rangers’ world.

Buoyed by his return after he missed nine games for personal reasons, the Rangers got an early lead and never let up, putting together a dominant performance in beating the Boston Bruins, 4-0, at TD Garden.

"Having him back does so many things, not only on the ice but just mentally,’’ coach David Quinn said. "I think our guys certainly hold him in high esteem. He’s a well-liked teammate, he’s a great teammate. Our guys were dying for him to come back for a lot of reasons, and you put him in our lineup and all of a sudden, we’ve got a little bit more swagger.’’

"It was definitely a huge boost getting him back, not only for the game but just around the locker room, around the guys again,’’ Mika Zibanejad said. "And I thought the whole team really came together today — a real team win. We played really, really solid over the 60 minutes, and I think Panarin’s return] definitely had something to do with it.’’

Panarin left the team Feb. 22 after the publication of an article in Russia in which his former KHL coach accused him of beating a woman in Latvia in 2011. He was not made available to the media in the postgame interviews, just as he was not made available Wednesday when he rejoined the team at practice.

He got an assist, as his precise pass from the right-wing corner found center Ryan Strome alone in the low slot for the goal that made it 3-0 at 8:03 of the third period.

But even beyond that one point, the Russian forward’s presence seemed to lift everyone in a white jersey.

Zibanejad, who has struggled to produce offense all season, had two assists and his linemates, Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich, each had a goal and an assist.

The defensemen were strong as a unit and the team played perhaps its best game defensively all season, with Farmingville native Keith Kinkaid (18 saves) earning the shutout. It was Kinkaid’s first win as a Ranger.

"The way we played today is the way we need to play going forward,’’ he said. "We didn’t give them much. We kept their guys in check, and our commitment on the forecheck [and] getting back — you see all the guys picking their pockets on the way back on the backcheck. And then our commitment to our structure and our ‘D’ zone, it was tremendous tonight.’’

K’Andre Miller, the 21-year-old rookie defenseman, scored at 3:06 of the first period when he whipped a wrist shot from the blue line that went through a screen and banked in off the post to beat goaltender Jaroslav Halak.

It was the first goal by the Rangers against the former Islander in three games this season. He had shut them out in Boston’s 4-0 win on Thursday.

Kreider’s team-leading 14th goal made it 2-0 at 5:42 of the second period, and Strome and Buchnevich (at 16:12 of the third period, assisted by Kreider) finished the job.

The Rangers (11-12-3, 25 points), who had lost three straight games, closed out their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record and pulled to within seven points of Boston (14-7-4, 32) for the fourth and final playoff position in the East Division.

They will face the Flyers at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Wednesday.

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