“Panarin shows ‘fun,’ Quick’s strong first start, more: 4 Rangers picks.”

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings got off to a fast start, hitting an early 5-on-3 power play and holding the New York Rangers without a shot in the first eight minutes of the game. Coach Peter Laviolette liked that his team didn’t let the initial adversity rattle them.

“I thought we stepped up really well defensively and kept the pressure on offensively,” he said.

The results were exactly what New York wanted. After a hat trick from Artemi Panarin, a 3-on-4 power play goal and a solid season debut from goaltender Jonathan Quick, the Rangers won 5-2 and improved to 3-0-1 on the young season. Here are four takeaways from the game.

Quick looks strong in the first game

Quick had to come through early for the Rangers as the Red Wings pushed for the first part of the game. He made 10 saves in the first 11 minutes.

“The fact that he kept the score 0-0 early was great,” said Vincent Trocheck.

Detroit had the best scoring chances at 5-on-3, but the Wings couldn’t get a shot off. Alex DeBrincat had an open net during this period but was unable to get a shot on net from an odd angle.

The Rangers goaltender continued his solid play as the score spiraled out of control. He stopped a good attempt from Ben Chiarot at the start of the third period, then 11 more in that period. He could hardly be blamed for the goals conceded. The Red Wings scored early in the second period after clever puck movement between Lucas Raymond, JT Compher and Mo Seider, who fired a dangerous shot from the slot. Then, with less than four minutes left, the Rangers left Compher alone in front of the net on the power play and Chiarot let him score.

As the Rangers’ No. 1 prospect, Quick was a huge luxury. 2 last season and posted a .911 save percentage in 27 games. Thursday marked an encouraging start to his 2024-25 campaign. He finished the night with 29 saves on 31 Red Wings shots.

“He was on the right track the whole time,” Laviolette said. “I thought he played a fantastic game. That’s what you get from someone his equal, a guy who has won championships and played as long as he has.”

Panarin continues his successful start with a hat trick

It took a while for the Rangers to get their first shot of the game, but Panarin made the most of it. Trocheck found him on a backdoor pass in the first period, and it got past Cam Talbot to give the Rangers an early lead.

His second goal during this period came on the power play. He snapped a shot over Talbot’s blocker and into the top corner of the net. Midway through the second period, the Russian winger completed the hat trick by beating Talbot with a slap shot on the power play.

“I’m impressed with him pretty much every game,” Trocheck said. “When he has the puck, the show is on. Tonight was a fun performance.”

Panarin is up to 11 points in four games. According to Rangers PR, he is the first player in franchise history to score multiple points in each of the team’s first four games.

Trocheck, Panarin’s center, assisted on all three of Panarin’s goals and scored a goal himself on a power play in the second period, hitting a shot from – who else? – Panarin.

Rookie defenseman Mancini nearly scored his first NHL goal against Utah on Saturday, but the goal was called back due to goaltender interference against Matt Rempe. A little luck in his home state helped Mancini, who grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, finally get on the board on Thursday. Kaapo Kakko brought the puck to him at the blue line in the second period and he shot it into the net. Talbot couldn’t get out of his crease in time, leading to Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde pulling him in favor of Alex Lyon.

Mancini, meanwhile, dropped to his knees and punched the air in celebration.

“A little bit of disbelief, just emotion, happiness,” he said. “Words can’t really describe it, especially doing it in Michigan too.”

“It’s great,” Trocheck said. “These are memories you never forget. It’s a pretty cool experience in his hometown team arena.”

The 22-year-old admitted with a laugh that he was a little nervous after the last goalkeeper interference until he got confirmation that the goal was good.

“I’m glad that counted,” he said.

Mancini had his mother and a grandmother at the game, as well as a combination of cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

“That was for her,” he said.

The defensive decision is imminent

Ryan Lindgren skated again in the full-contact uniform on Thursday and appears to be close to returning from an upper-body injury he suffered in the preseason. The Rangers have two options when he returns. They could waive Chad Ruhwedel and keep both Mancini and Zac Jones on the NHL roster, or they could send Mancini, who is on waivers, back to the minors.

The latter seems most likely to me. It only makes sense to keep Mancini in the NHL if he wants to get consistent ice time, which he probably wouldn’t do unless Laviolette wants him to play against Jones. The Rangers almost certainly wouldn’t place Jones on waivers – he’s much more likely to be claimed than Ruhwedel – so he’d have to be a healthy replacement if Mancini stays with Lindgren back in the lineup.

(Top photo by Artemi Panarin: Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images)