Artemi Panarin tallies hat trick to help Rangers beat NHL-best Bruins 5-2

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New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) hits the puck past Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) to score in the second period of an NHL hockey game as Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) looks on, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick deflects a Boston Bruins goal-attempt in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) is unable to stop a goal by New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin, not seen, as Rangers center Alex Wennberg (91) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk tries to defend at left. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrates with defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (12) after scoring in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates with New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) after Panarin scored in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Boston Bruins center Johnny Beecher (19) and New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) pursue the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Boston Bruins right wing Justin Brazeau (55) slam into the boards as they pursue the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) is unable to score as New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) deflects the puck while defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (5) defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers center Alex Wennberg (91) and Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) collide as they pursue the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) and Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) skate past the net after Panarin hit an empty-net goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) greets people as he step off the ice after they defeated the Boston Bruins in an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates with center Vincent Trocheck (16) after scoring in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates with goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) after defeating the Boston Bruins in an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Boston Bruins center Jakub Lauko (94) is unable to score as New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) deflects the puck while Rangers center Alex Wennberg (91) defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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New York Rangers defenseman Zac Jones (6) and Boston Bruins forward Jesper Boqvist (70) slam into the boards in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Boston Bruins right wing Justin Brazeau (55) hits the puck into the net to score as New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (79) defends in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

By JIMMY GOLEN

BOSTON (AP) — Artemi Panarin only needed to beat the goalie once to tally his third hat trick of the season.

The Rangers forward gave New York a 1-0 lead on a wrist shot he threaded through the legs of a Boston defender and goalie Jeremy Swayman. After the Bruins tied it, Panarin got credit for his second goal when Boston’s Jake DeBrusk knocked the puck into his own net.

“It’s a nice feeling, obviously, when you get that goal. But I was pretty honest, for my part: I tried try to pass,” said Panarin, who completed his seventh career hat trick with an empty-net goal.

“I got it on my side tonight,” he said with a sheepish smile, “and thank you.”

Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots to help the Rangers beat NHL-best Boston for the third time in as many tries this season. It was his 391st career victory, tying Ryan Miller for the most by an American goalie.

“Unreal guy. So glad he’s on our team,” defenseman Braden Schneider said. “Legend. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s an amazing player and an amazing person.”

The Rangers now have 96 points to lead the Metropolitan Division and close within one point of Boston, the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, for the best record in the NHL.

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) controls the puck with Travis Sanheim (6) and Carolina Hurricanes' Stefan Noesen (23) nearby during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, March 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Hurricanes edge Flyers 3-2 in OT

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) reacts as Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates after scoring with left wing Kyle Connor (81) and left wing Alex Iafallo (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Mark Scheifele scores 3 and Jets beats Rangers 4-2

New York Rangers' Jonny Brodzinski (22) reacts after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Rangers win 5-2 as Islanders lose fourth consecutive game

“They were No. 1 in the league coming into this game. And to come here and get two points is massive,” Schneider said. “Obviously, we know where we’re at. And coming into this game, it means a little bit more when we know we’re right behind them. You go game by game, but you really get up for these ones because they’re important.”

Adam Fox also scored for New York, which has won six of its last eight. Mika Zibanejad added an empty-net goal with two minutes left, and Panarin added his career-high 41st goal of the season a minute later with Swayman still off for an extra skater.

DeBrusk and Justin Brazeau scored for Boston, and Swayman made 26 saves. The Bruins lost for just the second time in seven games.

The Bruins led 1-0 when Panarin scored through the legs of defender Pavel Zacha and Swayman with eight minutes to play in the second period. Panarin tallied his second when he tried to cross the puck, but DeBrusk dove onto the ice to block the passing lane but instead deflected it into the goal.

Brazeau tied it for Boston, cleaning up a puck that snuck behind Quick on Marchand’s shot. But just 40 seconds later, Fox wristed a bullet into the top shelf to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

UP NEXT:

Rangers: Host Florida on Saturday night.

Bruins: Visit Philadelphia on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL