Rangers Fall to Avalanche in 6-3 Defeat
DENVER — The Rangers were ahead by a goal at the end of the first period, but things took a turn when Artemi Panarin turned the puck over along the boards.
He sent it across the ice, inadvertently setting up the Avalanche to equalize at one-all. Nathan MacKinnon found the puck, tapping it in after it deflected off Vladislav Gavrikov’s skate, with just 26 seconds left in the period.
Panarin reflected on the play, saying, “I thought there was someone in the middle, but there wasn’t. I think I need to see it again to really comment properly.”
This mistake was just one of several he made in a game that ended poorly for the Rangers, who lost 6-3 to the Avalanche on Thursday night.
Coach Mike Sullivan noted, “I’ve had numerous discussions with Artemi this season. We don’t expect him to be our defensive star, but everyone needs to contribute defensively. If we don’t have that commitment, winning consistently will be a challenge.”
He emphasized the necessity for Panarin to tighten up his defensive game, despite acknowledging his offensive talent. “He can definitely play defense when he’s committed,” Sullivan added.
In an attempt to boost their lackluster offense, the Rangers fielded their ninth different top line combination this season. Panarin teamed up with Vincent Trocheck and JT Miller for the first time, which Sullivan hoped would create a more consistent offensive threat.
“We believe a little change can help them perform better,” he mentioned. “Reworking the top six might give us that needed spark.”
This season has seen eight different players rotate through the top line, including rookie Gabe Perreault, who played with Mika Zibanejad and Miller before getting sent back to Hartford.
Panarin, Zibanejad, Miller, and Alexis Lafreniere are the most consistent in that lineup, although Will Quill, Taylor Radish, and Conor Sheary have also had their turns as wingers.
Will Borgen returned to the sidelines with an upper-body injury, the same one that had previously kept him out of action on Nov. 15 and 16. Sullivan noted the team would have to “manage accordingly” with him moving forward.
Meanwhile, Juuso Parsinen and Urho Vaakanainen were healthy scratches for the game against the Avalanche. This marked Parsinen’s ninth time as a healthy scratch, while Vaakanainen has missed games due to both a lower-body injury and being a healthy scratch.
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin faced 33 shots, stopping 29, suffering his eighth loss of the season.
