The Blue Jackets needed him in their 17th and final back-to-back on the schedule, when in both games it looked like their winning streak might end.
Monday in Boston, after having no impact in the first two periods of the Jackets' 5-4 overtime win, Panarin sprung to life late in the game. He scored a goal with a one-timer off a face-off win by Foligno for a brief lead in the third period and then skated a prolonged shift during 3-on-3 overtime that led directly to Cam Atkinson's game-winner.
"He was really quiet [Monday] night until he won it for us, basically," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "He ended up being a big part of winning it for us."
The same was true a day later, in New York, when Panarin took the game over by doing what he does best against the Rangers. He's haunted that team, and goalie Henrik Lundqvist, ever since coming to the NHL in 2015 with the Chicago Blackhawks.
He's recorded at least one point in all eight games he's ever played against the Rangers and now has 10 goals, three assists and 13 points in his career against them, including six goals and one assist this season. Panarin also scored the first nine of those goals against Lundqvist before putting the 10th into an empty net Tuesday night.
"It was the same luck again today," he said, using an interpreter while his English improves. "I'd like to play against the Rangers every day."
The Blue Jackets wouldn't mind that either, but they're done with the Rangers until next season, taking three of the four games to clinch this season's series. Without their gamebreaker, who now has team highs with 25 goals and 68 points, it might've been a lot closer.
Columbus also moved up to third place in the Metropolitan Division with the win and has eight games left in the regular season. The Jackets are now projecting as a team bound for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season, but there's a distinct difference this time.
Now, they have Panarin, after a blockbuster trade that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen helped orchestrate with the Blackhawks last summer. Kekalainen sent Brandon Saad back to Chicago for a return haul that was headlined by Panarin, who's been nothing short of outstanding.
"I miss Patrick Kane of course, but you have to move on and what's done is done," Panarin said. "I am glad I have found a good team and everything is awesome."
The Blue Jackets are glad to have him, especially after he delivered, yet again, Tuesday night.
Panarin's first goal, set up with a nice feed from defenseman Ian Cole, put Columbus up 2-0 at 9:28 of the second period. It was scored from the slot with a perfectly placed wrist shot that beat Lundqvist high to the top right corner.
The second goal gave Columbus some breathing room, 4-2, at 11:19 of the third. Panarin first set up Atkinson with a great cross-ice feed on a 2-on-1, but watched the puck bounce awkwardly off Atkinson's stick. Lundqvist made the stop, but the puck popped out without the Rangers' goalie noticing. Panarin saw it, scooped it and scored with a backhand shot.
"I was mad at Cam," Panarin said, smiling. "'Please, shoot it for once.' And then [I was] very grateful that [the] referee probably didn't see the moment [the puck was hidden]. He was behind [the] goalie, so that helped us."
Panarin's third goal was the capper. He potted the empty-netter for his second career hat trick, which he notched in the same building as his first one Feb. 17, 2016 with the Blackhawks. He was a rookie that season, who took the NHL by surprise and won the Calder Trophy ahead of two much bigger names: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel.
Two years later, Panarin is an NHL star. He's a full-on force to be dealt with now.
"It's a key thing," Tortorella said. "It something that teams that end up being there at the end of the year have … a gamebreaker, a guy that relishes being in those situations, a guy that wants the puck in key situations. We're fortunate we have him."
There's no need to ask anymore, because it's just like Panarin said.
We know.
