The New York Rangers breathed a collective sigh of relief as star forward returned to practice just two days after suffering a lower-body injury during a 6-4 preseason victory over the New York Islanders.
He logged 14 shifts and played 11 minutes and 58 seconds in that game before exiting in the third period. The 32-year-old, who racked up 120 points last season, missed practice on Wednesday.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette expressed optimism on Wednesday that Panarin could still play in at least one more preseason game before the regular season begins on October 9. Though Panarin wasn’t part of the group set to face the Boston Bruins Thursday night, his return to practice suggests he’s on track to appear in another exhibition game.
Panarin confirmed his recovery progress after practice.
As Panarin prepares for the 2024-25 season, he comes off a career-best year in the NHL, posting 49 goals and 120 points. His point total was the fourth-highest in the league last season and the second-highest in Rangers history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr’s 123-point season in 2005-06.
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Rangers avoid 2 of 3 injury scares
Panarin was one of three Rangers players who faced potential injuries on Tuesday. Filip Chytil also gave Rangers fans a scare when he suffered what appeared to be a leg injury after a hit from Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. The 25-year-old had to be helped off the ice, unable to put weight on his left leg. However, Chytil made a return to the game and later scored a third-period goal, contributing to the Rangers’ comeback from a 4-1 deficit.
Of greater concern is the injury to defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who defended Chytil by engaging in a fight after the hit. Lindgren is expected to be sidelined for “at least a few weeks” due to an upper-body injury sustained during the altercation.
Fortunately, the Rangers will not be without Panarin at the start of the season. To replicate last season’s success, when they captured the Presidents’ Trophy with a franchise-record 114 points, they need Panarin to be in top form.
Although Panarin won’t play against the Bruins, he has three more opportunities to prepare for the season during the preseason. Following Thursday’s game, the Rangers will face the New Jersey Devils in back-to-back games on September 30 and October 1, before concluding their preseason schedule against the Islanders on October 4.
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