Artemi Panarin notches hat trick to pace Rangers dominant win over Red Wings

DETROIT — If you thought the five points Artemi Panarin put up through the first four games of last season foreshadowed his 120-point campaign, the possibilities for the 2024-25 season could be endless after the star Russian wing upped his total to 11 over the same span. Rising higher and higher game after game, the Breadman delivered a hat trick and a four-point effort in the Rangers’ 5-2 dismantling of the Red Wings Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. It was a standout performance for Panarin, who already has four exceptional showings. Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere have led the Rangers in their offensive onslaught to start the season, during which the team has racked up 13 five-on-five goals and 20 in total. The line is always on the attack, and Thursday night was no different. Panarin, who became the first player in franchise history to record multiple points in each of the first four games of a season, has been the driver.  ...