Artemi Panarin and the New York Rangers are coming home empty-handed after a two-game trip to Amalie Arena, the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won Games 3 and 4 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference finals. With the Rangers losing momentum and letting the two-time defending league champions back tie the series up at 2-2, Panarin tried to put things into perspective, in hopes of keeping the Rangers and their supporters optimistic, heading to Game 4.

Via Arthur Staple of The Athletic:

“We’ve been in worse spots before,” Artemi Panarin said. “We’re OK.”

Panarin surely knows what he was talking about because it was not that long ago when the Rangers trailed the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round multiple times; they successfully battled back from a 3-1 series deficit to send Sidney Crosby and the Pens home early. In the second round, they lost the first two games to the Carolina Hurricanes and had to overcome a 3-2 deficit to book a date with the Lightning in the conference finals.

Article Continues Below
More New York Rangers News
NY Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan is introduced during a press conference at the MSG Training Center
Rangers’ Mike Sullivan to add 2 ex-head coaches to staffChristopher Hennessy ·
image thumbnail
Why Rangers must trade K’Andre Miller in 2025 offseasonChristopher Hennessy ·
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jesper Fast (71) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at PNC Arena.
Hurricanes’ Jesper Fast makes retirement decision after missing 2024-25Christopher Hennessy ·
New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller with eyeball emojis around him.
3 best destinations for Rangers’ K’Andre Miller in 2025 NHL offseasonTristin McKinstry ·
New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller (79) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena.
Rangers rumors: New York ‘testing market’ on top-4 defensemanColin Gallant ·
Kyle Palmieri in a New Jersey Devils jersey and devils logo with question marks around him, islanders, kyle Palmieri, nhl free agency, free agent
3 best Kyle Palmieri destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyBryan Logan ·

In retrospect, it would even be surprising to see the Rangers and the Lightning tied after four games, considering the way the Lightning took care of business in the second round against the mighty Florida Panthers.

Panarin and the Rangers now hope they could recapture their form, as they look to stay undefeated at home in this series with Game 5 coming up at Madison Square Garden this Thursday.