SUNRISE, Fla. — By the time Artemi Panarin scored in the Eastern Conference finals, it was too late to celebrate.
In this first half of the playoffs, it looked like Panarin had finally broken the dogma that had taken hold over the past two playoffs.
Instead, that backlash came in the Eastern Conference finals, when the Rangers scored their first goal since Game 3 of the second round, 18:20 into the third period of Game 6 in a 2-1 loss to Florida. The Blueshirts had gone eight straight games without a goal for nearly the entire series as they struggled offensively.
Panarin wasn’t the only Rangers star missing in the conference finals: Three-fifths of the Rangers’ top power play unit failed to score a goal against the Panthers, and their fourth man, Chris Kreider, only managed one goal.
This season finale series isn’t just focused on 10th place or places close to it.
But the fact remains that the Rangers’ main superstar recorded just three assists and one goal in the series.
“They spend a lot more time in our zone than we do. [in theirs]”We played conservatively, but they’re a team that pressures with all five guys. It’s dangerous, but it’s worked for them. Sometimes they come rushing in with a few guys, but they defended pretty well,” Panarin said.
Panarin had two golden chances on the rush early in the third period of Game 6, but one was deflected by Sergei Bobrovsky and the second was saved by Bobrovsky with his glove.
However, those opportunities were few and far between through six games in which Panarin was largely shut down.
Panarin’s linemates Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck filled the void and, in doing so, shielded Panarin from a lot of criticism.
The Post follows Rangers coverage in the NHL playoffs
Lafreniere was the Rangers’ best skater throughout the series, Trocheck was their best skater throughout the playoffs, and their line (the only one that wasn’t touched when Peter Laviolette put the forwards through the blender on Saturday) put up decent numbers throughout the series.
But Panarin’s creativity and bravado were largely absent in this series, and he didn’t get off his schneid until it was too late.
This was the 32-year-old Panarin’s best year with the Rangers — or in the NHL — and his 120 regular-season points would have put him at the top of the Hart Trophy list, but players who have had historically great seasons will likely surpass him in most voting.
And when he raised his leg for his signature kick after scoring in overtime of Game 3 against Carolina for his ninth point in seven playoff games to that point, it looked like his playoff trajectory would mirror his regular-season trajectory.
But that did not happen.
“Tonight it was 1-0 from start to finish,” Panarin said, “and it was close after that. One goal changes everything. Not the way we played. There’s nothing we can do right now.”
