New Headline: Rangers Dedicate To Kopitar's Legacy As Hockey Star Announces Retirement
Brad Penner-Imagn Images All eyes Monday night were on former New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since a Feb. 4 trade sent him to the Los Angeles Kings. By the final buzzer, however, the spotlight shifted to Kings captain Anze Kopitar.
Kopitar had one assist in a 4-1 Los Angeles win , helping the Kings move into a tie with the Seattle Kraken for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference at 71 points (31-26-9). He lingered on the ice afterwards as the Rangers lined up to shake hands with the future Hockey Hall of Famer. The Rangers paid their respects to Anže Kopitar after his final game at MSG 👏 pic.
twitter. com/sXy9eWuWy0 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 17, 2026 “He’s been one of my favorite players since I was a kid. A guy I’ve looked up to — just one of the greats in the game,” Rangers captain J.
T. Miller lauded postgame . “He’s played so long.
He’s done it so long at the level he’s played at. ” In September, Kopitar announced the 2025-26 season would be his last. Monday marked his last appearance at MSG in a historic 20-year NHL career.
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