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Brad Penner-Imagn Images Add sentimental to the list of adjectives used best to describe attributes of Artemi Panarin. On most nights, we are generally accustomed to seeing Panarin the player, who could be best described as talented, flashy, and exuberant. In his return to Madison Square Garden on Monday night, we saw flashes of Panarin the player, but more so, we witnessed the personal side of Panarin - his sentimental side.
The New York Rangers suffered a 4-1 loss to Panarin's Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in what was the first time Panarin played against the Blueshirts since being traded to the Kings on Feb. 5. From the start of warmups, the spotlight was on Panarin, as he was greeted by fans with cheers.
The 34-year-old forward was the last player off the ice during warm-ups and even acknowledged the fans as they embraced him with cheers, something that is generally uncommon. "Emotional, especially warmup. … Since I stepped on the ice, I saw the jerseys and all that stuff,” Panarin said.
“I just feel good about that. That means for me a lot. I spent almost seven years here.
... I’m proud of it. " In typical Panarin fashion, he did his pregame ritual, flipping two pucks from center ice into the net, but switched things up by firing one puck onto the Rangers’ side of the ice, showing his sentimental side and showman's attitude.