Panarin celebrates an emotional return to New York

Artemi Panarin enjoyed a successful evening on his return to Madison Square Garden. The former Rangers star contributed an assist in his Los Angeles Kings' 4-1 victory over New York – and was clearly the center of attention.

March 17, 2026

From: fop

The Russian was released by the Rangers in early February after seven years and traded to Los Angeles. Now, upon his return to the Big Apple, he was greeted with applause and a video tribute. With 607 points, he remains one of the defining figures in the club's recent history.

On the pitch, Drew Doughty (with an assist from Panarin), Mikey Anderson, and Alex Laferriere quickly established a clear lead. Vincent Trocheck briefly narrowed the gap before Trevor Moore scored into an empty net to make it 4-1, the final score.

With the win, the Kings improve their position in the tight race for playoff spots and draw level with Seattle in the battle for the Wild Card. For the Rangers, however, a four-game winning streak comes to an abrupt end.

For Panarin, one thing remains above all: an evening full of emotions – and a successful new beginning in the new jersey.