To say the New York Rangers are on thin ice would be an understatement. Starting 2024 on a disappointing note, they struggled to find momentum early in the season. However, 2025 had been looking much better with many crucial matches going Rangers’ way. The stage was set for a massive turnaround. Yet, all it took was one lapse in judgment from NYR captain Artemi Panarin to put the team in a tough spot again.

Panarin’s mistake was even more heartbreaking because the captain had NYR equalize the game to 4-4 with just under 5 minutes remaining. However, the single blunder enabled Avalanche’s Artturi Lehkonen to score the winning goal with just 14.7 seconds left on the clock. Infuriated by the loss, former NYR star Sean Avery took to social media to berate Panarin.

Avery uploaded a clip breaking down the decisive moment, calling viewers’ attention to follow Panarain on the screen. “Just watch Artemi Panarain’s back check,” said Avery, highlighting the sequence where Cale Makar came out of the box and intercepted the pass meant for Panarin. “Oh, wow. F*** off, ‘Breadman.'” said the retired Rangers star while pointing to the captain.

The clip continued Panarin’s last-ditch attempt to stop the goal with a backcheck. However, it was in vain, as Makar combined with Lehkonen for a swift counter-attack taking the score to 5-4. With under 15 seconds left on the clock, restarting the game became a mere formality. “You f***ing lead the team, you lazy f***?” an angry Sean Avery questioned.

However, Snark Messier, who shared Avery’s clip in X, noted that Panarin didn’t have any stamina left in the tank after a long shift. He was, however, still disappointed with the effort.The backcheck was a final desperate attempt to stop the counter-attack and force the match into overtime. Unfortunately, the costly loss has halted the New York Rangers’ dash to make the playoffs, and now everything hangs on a delicate balance.

Why the Colorado Avalanche clash was so crucial for the New York Rangers

“On a different night, we win that game,” NYR right-winger Reilly Smith said about the loss, according to the New York Post. Yet, what they truly needed was to win tonight’s game. The team sits in sixth place on the wildcard table with 52 points after tonight’s loss. However, a win would’ve seen the NYR climb to third place, right behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, with 54 points.

Besides leapfrogging rivals Montreal and Detroit, the Rangers would’ve also gone 2 points clear of Philadelphia, who also have 52 points. Yet, the loss has put their playoff push in a precarious position, possibly giving Montreal, Detroit, and now the Flyers a chance to widen the gap against the Rangers. So it’s no wonder Sean Avery lost his cool after the last-moment blunder.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost just yet. The NYR will take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET. If the Rangers lose the match against the Canes, it may very well put an end to their playoff ambitions for the current season. However, winning the game, especially with a large goal difference, may help the Rangers make a strong comeback in the race to become a wildcard. And while only time tells what happens in their next clash, tell us what you thought of the blunder that led to the last-moment goal in the comments.