The first round of the Stanley Cup featured a dramatic series where five out of eight matchups were decided in a seventh game. The clash between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins followed that pattern of tension and overtime drama. In the decisive game, Artemi Panarin, the Russian forward, delivered the pivotal moment with a timely shot that pushed the Rangers into the next round, where they would face the Carolina Hurricanes.
From the start, the series between the Rangers and Penguins was heated. The Blueshirts faced the real danger of elimination after game four as Pittsburgh captured three of the four games around that point. Yet New York rallied to even the series, and the seventh game turned into a back-and-forth battle. After three periods, the score stood 3-3, and six minutes before the final horn, the Rangers found a way to take the lead and keep their hopes alive.
Panarin did not dominate the series in traditional terms, tallying in four of the six games before the deciding clash. In the overtime period of Game 7, the Russian forward rose to the occasion, notching the winner and guiding his team into the next round.
Panarin’s moment came when he received a pass from Adam Fox and directed the puck into the Penguins’ right circle, sealing a series victory that propelled the Rangers into the second round of the Stanley Cup for the first time in five years.
The overtime tally marked Panarin as the third Rangers player to score in Game 7 of an NHL playoff series. Previously, Derek Stepan did so in the 2015 second-round game against the Washington Capitals, and Stefan Matteau achieved the feat in the 1994 Conference Finals from the overtime of Game 7, a memory recounted in later retrospectives.
Following the game, Panarin was named the first star. He reflected on his performance and acknowledged that he often passed to teammates, but in this game he found opportunities to shoot and convert when the moment demanded it.
Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant spoke to the press after the game, expressing confidence in Panarin’s overtime ability. He said he felt certain the moment would come and that Panarin would be the one to deliver if the team found a way to score first in overtime.
Panarin’s teammates also praised him. Forward Jacob Trouba highlighted the forward’s grounded style and his role as a team player who contributes without seeking the spotlight, underscoring that Panarin is a valuable member of the squad rather than a solo star.
Meanwhile, Swedish center Mika Zibanejad, who tallied three points including an assist on New York’s first goal, stayed in the arena to celebrate the win. He admitted the noise in the arena after Panarin’s overtime strike was unlike anything he had heard before, and he could scarcely hear his own thoughts amid the roar.
Media coverage of Panarin’s success echoed his impact on the season and the club’s plans. New York had signed Panarin ahead of the 2019-20 season to deliver big moments, particularly in high-stakes playoff games, and his performance in Game 7 reinforced why the team had valued his presence. He joined the Rangers from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019 on a seven-year contract, a move cited in several outlets as a critical piece of the team’s championship aspirations.
Observers noted Panarin’s all-around skill as a playmaker who can set up teammates and also contribute goals when a shot is warranted. Journalists and analysts pointed to his rhythm of decision-making and readiness to seize opportunities during clutch moments.
Another key contributor in the seventh game was goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who made 42 saves to keep New York in the contest. His performance stood out as the series progressed, with the goaltender setting a notable Rangers playoff record by stopping 255 shots across seven games against Pittsburgh. This marked the highest single-series save total for a Ranger goaltender since the league began tracking shots on goal, and at 26 years and 136 days old, Shesterkin became the youngest Rangers goalie to win a Game 7 in a playoff series in his debut postseason appearance, surpassing the previous record held by Mike Richter.