GREENBURGH, NY – Listen and talk to Artemi Panarin long enough and it becomes clear that the New York Rangers forward is rarely satisfied and never thinks he was or is at his best.

Even now, with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in eight games, one point in each game and at least two at halftime, the showdown against is on Tuesday night at Capital One Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN). the Washington Capitals), Panarin says about his play:

“I don’t think bad.”

“He sets such a high goal and tries to achieve it every day,” said Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome, who played for Panarin in New York from 2018 to 2022. “I think that’s his way of being motivated.”

But even Panarin couldn’t and can’t deny that he came damn close to playing his best last season with 49 goals, 17 more than in any of his previous eight seasons, and 120 points, 24 more than his previous NHL peak.

It was only this personal success that worried Panarin at the start of this season.

“I feel like it’s easier to be more motivated when you don’t have that,” he said. “I didn’t have that this year and I was so nervous about it before the season. The season before I didn’t have the best result, you know, and that makes you very hungry and angry. If I have a year like that.” I wasn’t that hungry last year. I’m not saying I’m not hungry right now, it’s just human nature. So it’s easier for me to be motivated after a bad year.

As for Panarin, he had just two points, both assists in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Rangers were knocked out of the first round of the Eastern Conference in seven games by the New Jersey Devils. Panarin had to accept criticism of his performance. He did something about it.

Last season, following his 120 points in the regular season, Panarin scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 16 playoff games, helping the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling in six games against the Florida Panthers lost, who won the final Stanley Cup.

Turns out there was no reason for Panarin to be nervous about doing it again this season. After four games, he had 11 points (five goals, six assists), including a hat trick in a 5-2 win at the Detroit Red Wings on October 17. He has a point in each of his last four games, including an assist and six shots on goal in a 2-1 win over the Ducks on Saturday.

“Just look at the last game, it seemed like the puck was constantly on his stick,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “I think he works hard to create those opportunities. He works hard to create the battles where he gets possession of the ball, and then when he gets possession of the ball, the puck is on his stick and he can hold on to it and find the next play.”, make the next play, the create the next scoring opportunity.

“He was able to do that last year and that has carried over from last year to this year. Even when you watch him practice, the puck is on his stick and it’s hard to get it off him, and he does it. “It sets him apart from others because of how he competes with pucks.”

Panarin, who turns 33 on Wednesday, said he viewed it as a challenge to find the motivation to match or exceed his performances from last season.

“But I like the pressure,” he said. “I like it when people worry about my job. I have started to respect that in my life. When I was younger I thought it was just a normal job, no pressure, just playing hockey. Now I enjoy it despite the pressure.” Side of it too.”

For the second time in a row, Panarin worked intensively on his shot.

He did it last summer and noticed the difference early in the season, a big reason why he shot the puck more than he ever had in the NHL, finishing with 303 shots on goal, 75 more than his previous NHL high of 228 81 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2017-18 season.

Panarin had 204 shots on goal in 82 games during the 2022-23 season.

That summer, he also changed his offseason training to challenge himself, spending more time working on what he called “skill skating,” incorporating small area moves and cutbacks with the puck To imitate individual fights along the wall and make a play to free yourself.

“I’ve never done that before,” Panarin said. “I don’t know if I can say that this helped me yet. You feel it immediately when you hit it. You can select the corners. You can have more strength. I don’t know if you can feel it.” Skating.