Rangers vs Islanders: Artemiy Panarin Dominates Islanders with Five-Point Night

The New York Rangers extended their home winning to five games this evening as they dominated the New York Islanders 6-2 at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers went down early in this game, but then, it was the Artemiy Panarin show as registered his second career five-point game. Alexandar Georgiev got the started in net for the Rangers after sitting out the last couple of games, and had one heck of a second period to keep the Rangers in the game.

1st Period

Jordan Eberle (5) - Brock Nelson (17) - 0:18 1st Period

The way this game started for the Rangers, it looked like it was going to be another long night after what we all witnessed in St. Louis on Saturday. Jordan Eberle was able to give the Islanders an early 1-0 lead just 18 seconds into regulation. The goal came as a result of a failed clearing attempt, and the Rangers were unable to get control of the loose puck. Jordan Eberle swooped in to corral the puck, made a move around Georgiev, and tapped home the puck to put the Islanders ahead in this game.

Jesper Fast (8) - Artemiy Panarin (39) & Brady Skjei (13) - 8:14 1st Period

It was a wobbly few minutes for the Rangers, but they shook the nerves pretty quickly after the opening goal and went to work. A little over eight minutes later, Jesper Fast found a loose puck in the high slot, and tied the game on a diving effort in front of the net. The Rangers’ forecheck was excellent below the goal line, and led directly to the goal with great work from Brady Skjei.

2nd Period

Chris Kreider (15) - Artemiy Panarin (40) & Brady Skjei (14) - 5:06 2nd Period

The Rangers built off of their impressive effort in the first period, and were able to turn that into two more goals through 40 minutes. Chris Kreider gave the Rangers their first lead of the evening on a deflection off of Artemiy Panarin’s shot from the point. The goal went to review for a high stick, and after a short discussion among the officials, the goal was confirmed on the ice.

Adam Fox (6) - Jesper Fast (12) & Artemiy Panarin (41) - 11:11 2nd Period

About six minutes after Kreider’s go-ahead goal, Adam Fox doubled up the Rangers lead with a shot from an unprecedented angle. Fox made an incredible pivot along the boards to breakaway from his defender, and transitioned the puck down towards the net. Rather than going behind the net, Fox elected for a shot on the short-side and somehow slipped the puck through Semyon Varlamov.

3rd Period

Artemiy Panarin (26) - Unassisted - 0:49 3rd Period

After picking up three assists on the Rangers’ goals through the first two period, Artemiy Panarin decided it was his turn to get in on the goal scoring. Just 49 seconds into the third period, Panarin made a great defensive play and transitioned that into a partial breakaway the other away. Panarin was able to fight off of the backcheck from Scott Mayfield, and beat Varlamov with a chip shot on his backhand.

Artemiy Panarin (27) - Ryan Strome (30) & Jesper Fast (13) - 8:54 3rd Period

It didn’t take long for Panarin to pickup his second goal of the night and he burned the Islanders for his 27th goal of the season. The Rangers did an excellent job of cutting down plays through the neutral zone, and a great play by Jesper Fast created the 2-on-1 rush. Ryan Strome was able to find Panarin cutting to the net on the far side, and he buried it to make it a 5-1 lead for the Rangers.

Jacob Trouba (7) PPG - Adam Fox (20) & Filip Chytil (6) - 10:15 3rd Period

Jacob Trouba continued the onslaught for the Rangers and made it a 6-1 lead with a power play goal at the 10:15 mark. The shot didn’t seem all that threatening from the point, but Semyon Varlamov appeared to lose his footing as he tried to kick across his crease. Trouba’s goal ended the night for Varlamov, and Thomas Greiss came in to finish out the remaining ten minutes.

Brock Nelson (16) PPG - Jordan Eberle (15) & Derrick Brassard (14) - 12:48 3rd Period

Following some exchanging of punches, the Islanders were handed a power play late in the game and were able to make it a 6-2 game. Brock Nelson wound up swatting a loose puck out of midair and picked up his 16th of the season.

It was a scary opening few minutes for the Rangers, and the goal against certainly didn’t ease any of the nerves. Thankfully, they were able to right the ship pretty quickly and dominated the Islanders from that point on. It was an encouraging sign after the doors were blown off in St. Louis, and the Rangers have now won three of their last four contests. Following tonight’s entertaining win, the Rangers will have two scheduled off days before traveling up the road to Nassau Coliseum for a rematch on Thursday.