Panarin returns to give Rangers 'huge boost' in win against Bruins

Artemi Panarin returned to the lineup for the New York Rangers in their 4-0 win against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday.

Panarin had one assist and one shot on goal playing 18:45 after missing nine games while on a leave of absence. The forward returned to practice Wednesday but did not play in a 4-0 loss at the Bruins on Thursday.
"Having him back does so many things not only on the ice, but just mentally," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "I think our guys certainly hold him in high esteem. He's a well-liked teammate. He's a great teammate. Our guys were dying for him to come back for a lot of reasons. You put him in our lineup and all of a sudden we've got a little more swagger."
The Rangers were 4-5-0 without Panarin, who had not played since Feb. 20, a 4-1 win against the Washington Capitals.
Panarin skated on a line with center Ryan Strome and right wing Colin Blackwell. He assisted on Strome's goal at 8:03 of the third period to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead. It was his 19th point of the season (five goals, 14 assists) in 15 games.

He was a finalist in Hart Trophy voting for NHL most valuable player last season, when he scored 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 69 games.
Panarin was not made available to the media after the game. Mika Zibanejad said his return helped push the Rangers to the win that ended a three-game losing streak.
"I mean, it was definitely a huge boost getting him back, not only for the game but for around the locker room, around the guys again," Zibanejad said. "I thought the whole team really came together today. A real team win. We played really, really solid over the 60 minutes and I think [Panarin's return] definitely had something to do with it."
Quinn said Panarin returned to the Rangers with a strong mindset and eagerness to get back on the ice.
"He's a very cerebral player and that never leaves you regardless of how long you've been on or off the ice," Quinn said. "He does take good care of himself. He's in great shape. … He's got a great feel for the game. He slows it down to his pace, but he also can play at a high pace. Not many players like that in the League. It was a [heck] of a play he made on that goal [by Strome]. Just having him in our lineup certainly gave us a jolt."
Panarin left the Rangers on Feb. 22 following a story reported in Russia with allegations that have not been corroborated of him having a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman in Riga, Latvia, in 2011.
The allegations against Panarin in Russia were made by former NHL forward Andrei Nazarov, who was Panarin's coach with Vityaz Podolsk in the Kontinental Hockey League.
The Rangers issued a statement Feb. 22, saying Panarin "vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story."
The statement added, "This is clearly an intimidation tactic being used against him for being outspoken on recent political events" in Russia.
The NHL offered its support of Panarin and said it was going to monitor the situation.
Panarin has been vocal through social media in his support of Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader in Russia against President Vladimir Putin. Nazarov is known as a Putin supporter, according to reports.