Rangers' Artemi Panarin sets franchise record by extending point streak to start season to 15
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin protects the net in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
NEWARK — Artemi Panarin’s power-play goal in the first period of the Rangers’ 5-3 win over the Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday night gave him at least one point in each of the first 15 games of the season, a franchise record. He had been tied with Rod Gilbert, who picked up at least a point in the first 14 games in 1972-73.
Panarin added a second goal at 11:04 of the third period, which tied the score at 3-3. Jimmy Vesey’s second goal at 17:11 was the game-winner.
The next target for Panarin is the franchise record for the longest point streak at any point in a season of 17, set by Brian Leetch in 1991-92. Panarin, easily the Rangers’ best player this season, already has had 10 multiple-point games and leads the team in scoring with 26 points.
“He’s been pretty ridiculous,’’ Vesey said. “I was impressed with him last year, my first time playing with him. But this year, he’s kind of found a new gear. And I mean, for the franchise to be around this long and him to break a record like that, I think it’s pretty special.’’
Devils get Hughes back
While the Devils got center Jack Hughes back after he missed five games with a shoulder injury, they played without their captain, Nico Hischier, who missed his ninth game with an upper-body injury, and forward Timo Meier, who missed his second with a lower-body injury. They started the game with 11 forwards and seven defensemen but lost forward Tomas Nosek when he left the game after taking a big hit from Jacob Trouba.
Blue notes
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said there was no update on center Filip Chytil, who has been on injured reserve with an upper-body injury since the Nov. 2 game. Chytil still has not skated. Adam Fox, who has been on long-term injured reserve since that game, has been on the ice.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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