Artemi Panarin scored twice, and Filip Chytil contributed three assists, guiding the New York Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere also found the net for the Rangers, while Jonathan Quick, signed in the offseason as New York’s backup goalie, made 18 saves in his first start for the team.
“Everyone worked hard, and we had luck with good bounces and goals,” Panarin said.
Justin Schultz scored the lone goal for the Kraken, who have been limited to one goal or fewer in four of their five games this season. Philipp Grubauer stopped 23 shots.
The Rangers were eager to bounce back after a 4-1 home loss to Nashville.
“We had a tough game last time. We needed to bounce back, and this was the best outcome we could have hoped for,” Chytil said. “It was a good game for us today.”
Schultz gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead with a one-timer from the left circle midway through the first period, his first goal of the season. The Rangers quickly tied it up less than four minutes later on Panarin’s first goal.
New York scored two goals in the second period, making it 3-1. With about seven minutes left in the period, Grubauer couldn’t control a shot by Jacob Trouba, allowing the puck to slip into the crease, where Kakko knocked it in. Lafreniere then scored his second-season goal with two minutes remaining in the period.
“We didn’t execute well,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “Our pace and movement were lacking, five-on-five and on the power play. We weren’t sharp.”
Panarin scored again 5 1/2 minutes into the third period, corralling a bouncing puck and firing it past Grubauer.
GOING DARK
The game experienced a brief delay right after it began due to a bank of lights being out. The Rangers’ defensive zone was noticeably dimmer than the rest of the ice. After about a minute of play, the game was halted, and following a 10-minute wait, play resumed without the lights coming back on. Due to the lighting issue, the teams switched sides at the midway point of each period.
Players from both teams downplayed the effect of the lighting problem, although Panarin joked about sabotaging the lights. “I prefer it darker, so it’s harder for goalies. That’s why I scored two,” he quipped.
Game Notes
Kraken forward Andre Burakovsky left the game early in the second period after being pushed into the boards by Trouba. Burakovsky did not return, and coach Hakstol indicated he would assess Burakovsky’s status on Sunday.
“I don’t think it’s going to be short-term,” Hakstol said.
This game marked the start of a five-game road trip for the Rangers, their longest of the season. “Five games on the road is a long stretch,” Kakko said. “Getting the first win feels good.”
UP NEXT:
Rangers: At Calgary on Tuesday.
Kraken: At Detroit on Tuesday.
