DETROIT — If you thought the five points Artemi Panarin put up through the first four games of last season foreshadowed his 120-point campaign, the possibilities for the 2024-25 season could be endless after the star Russian wing upped his total to 11 over the same span.
Rising higher and higher game after game, the Breadman delivered a hat trick and a four-point effort in the Rangers’ 5-2 dismantling of the Red Wings on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
It was a standout performance for Panarin, who already has four exceptional showings.
Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere have led the Rangers in their offensive onslaught to start the season, during which the team has racked up 13 five-on-five goals and 20 in total.
The line is always on the attack, and Thursday night was no different.
Panarin, who became the first player in franchise history to record multiple points in each of the first four games of a season, has been the driver.
Facing Detroit for the second time in four days, the Rangers got the blood pumping early by surviving 3:18 of shorthanded ice time in the first period, which included a 42-second 5-on-3 Red Wings power play.
The Rangers’ penalty kill has only given up two power-play goals so far, having fended off 13 of the 15 man-advantage stretches they’ve faced.
They were 3-for-4 on Thursday, but the early shorthanded success quickly created offense.
Taking a cross-ice feed from Trocheck, Panarin wristed it home to get the Rangers on the board at the 8:30 mark of the opening frame.
Panarin then doubled the Rangers’ score on the power play later in the first period, picking the top corner just over 10 seconds into the man advantage.
It was ultimately Panarin’s first of three points on the power play Thursday night, after the Blueshirts went 3-for-4.
As effective as Panarin was, Trocheck was right beside him with a four-point performance of his own. The two had a hand in four of the Rangers’ five goals.
After Trocheck got a stick on a Panarin shot for a power-play goal and the 3-1 Rangers lead in the second period, the latter blasted a one-timer — also with the man-advantage — to give his team a comfortable three-goal lead.
Victor Mancini later recorded his first NHL goal to cap the Rangers scoring, which remained enough despite J.T. Compher’s goal at the 16:41 mark of the third period.
Not only does Panarin have a four-game point streak, but Lafreniere does, too.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 draft has collected two goals and three assists, while Trocheck jumped to two goals and four assists after Thursday night’s win.
It’s difficult to imagine Panarin having a better season than last, but another year with Trocheck and Lafreniere could make it happen.
The trio is already making the most of a projected full season together.