TAMPA, Fla. — Artemi Panarin was a sorcerer with the puck in his second three-goal performance of the month Saturday night against the Lightning, which helped lift the Rangers to a 5-1 win to close out 2023.
This was just the latest captivating effort from the star Russian wing, who should be at the forefront of the Hart Trophy conversation this season as the Rangers’ most indispensable scorer.
“Honestly, after this game, I feel great,” Panarin said after recording his sixth career hat trick. “I don’t know what can be better [than to] finish the year like that. We won the game, which is important. Thanks [to my] partners.”
As much as Panarin’s individual numbers have stood out this season, the effect his linemates — Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck — have had on them warrant the appreciation.
The second line was a consistent threat for the second straight game and actually scored two goals through their first four shifts before finishing with three on the night.
After failing to produce at five-on-five through nine straight games from Dec. 5-23, the trio has racked up five goals in the previous three matchups.
Panarin, however, has been a game-changer night in and night out with 23 goals and 27 assists through 35 games.
Finishing with 101 points in 2023, Panarin joined Mark Messier (1992 and 1995) as the only players in Rangers history to record 100 points in multiple calendar years.
“He’s had an unbelievable start to this year,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Panarin. “I think the line has played really well. It’s been consistent the entire year. They generate a lot of chances and a lot of zone time and a lot of looks. Tonight certainly paid off.”
Laviolette confirmed The Post’s report that Filip Chytil is to return home to Czechia as the next step in his recovery from a suspected concussion, noting that the Rangers are trying a different approach to usher the 24-year-old center along.
“Fil is progressing slowly,” Laviolette said. “It’s an opportunity for him to head home, reset, continue to move forward. When he comes back we’ll welcome him back with open arms. I think just from the progression standpoint, things not moving quick, it was just a different avenue to try and push things along.”
Chytil missed his 25th straight game Saturday night, but The Post’s Larry Brooks reported that the 21st-overall pick in 2017 is committed to returning this season.
While he’s been skating for a bit, there’s no official timeline on Chytil’s return from long-term injured reserve. Now that he’s leaving the country, it’s safe to assume Chytil won’t be back in the lineup for at least another month.
There’s always a possibility Chytil doesn’t return until the playoffs, or at all this season.
“I think we’re hopeful that he will be back,” Laviolette said. “Just where things were at here, we’re just trying a different approach, different avenue. This is more of just a reset to go home and take a different look at it.”
As for Kaapo Kakko, who missed his 15th straight game while on LTIR as well, Laviolette didn’t have much of an update.
“He’s on the ice,” He said. “He’s moving forward. He hasn’t been out there with us yet.”