'Bread Man' delivers in season opener for Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin scored his first career goal in his NHL debut and gained a nickname in the process.
"Panarin was fun to watch tonight," coach Joel Quennevile told reporters following the Blackhawks' 3-2 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday. "We call him the 'Bread Man'. Looked like he had the puck all night. ... It was a good start for him."
While Panarin's English isn't the best, Quenneville told reporters that the 23-year-old Russian doesn't have an issue with the nickname that sounds similar to the beloved restaurant Panera Bread.
Q on if Panarin likes his "Bread Man" nickname: "Yeah, he said he's been there." #Blackhawks
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) October 8, 2015
Chicago certainly didn't have any issue with his performance as Panarin accepted a feed from Patrick Kane and wired a shot from the slot past Henrik Lundqvist to forge a 1-1 tie in the latter stages of the first period. Panarin is expected to remain on the team's second line with Kane and Artem Anisimov.
Lundqvist: "That line with Anisimov, Kane and that young guy. I can't pronounce his name, but they looked really good." #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 8, 2015
Listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Panarin recorded 26 goals and a team-high 62 points in 54 games with St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League last season.
(h/t CSN Chicago)
