Penguins outlast Rangers in physical OT win
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The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers already have an intimate relationship.
In no affectionate way.
Such is the nature of being rivals in the Metropolitan Division. Plus, a bitterly-fought first-round postseason series last spring — which was claimed by the Rangers in seven mostly bellicose games — did nothing to dilute the venom between the two outfits.
And with three games between the foes over the span of seven days this week, there’s little reason to suspect this consociation will be any less cantankerous any time soon.
The first of those meetings — a physically challenging 3-2 win by the Penguins in overtime at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday — certainly suggested that.
A power-play goal by defenseman Kris Letang, his ninth of the season, at 1:38 of the extra period was the difference.
After a home contest against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, the Penguins will take on the Rangers in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Thursday and Saturday.
Sunday’s affair had all the trademarks of this rivalry, including some violent hitting, some late heroics and at least one injury. Penguins defenseman Dmitry Kulikov left the contest at 5:25 of the second period. Coach Mike Sullivan did not have an update on his status.
“Every time we play against them, it’s always exciting,” said Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, who stopped 27 of 29 shots and boosted his record to 20-7-6. “They have a good team, we have a good team. So, every time we play, it’s always competitive. It always comes down to the end.”
The start was pretty good for the Penguins as the Rangers took three penalties within the first 5:20 of regulation, allowing the hosts to open the scoring with a five-on-three power-play goal by forward Rickard Rakell at 6:03 of the first period.
From the high slot of the offensive zone, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin slid a pass just below the right dot. From there, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby one-touched the puck to above the circle where Rakell stroked a one-timer past goaltender Jaroslav Halak’s blocker on the far side for his 23rd goal of 2022-23. Penguins forward Jake Guentzel supplied an effective screen during the sequence. Crosby and Malkin had assists.
That was nullified by Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow’s 11th goal at 11:18 of the opening frame.
Corralling a puck behind the Penguins’ net, Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey backhand-dragged it to the right of the cage and tried to jam in a forehand shot but was rejected by Jarry. Vesey gathered his own rebound and slid a pass to the front of the crease where Goodrow, despite having Malkin’s stick hooking him in the midsection, jabbed a forehand shot by Jarry’s blocker. Vesey and linemate Tyler Motte tallied assists.
A bit of good fortune restored a lead for the Penguins, 2-1, only 81 seconds into the second period.
Going in deep on the left wing and into the corner of the offensive zone, Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin dished the puck to the left point for Penguins forward Jason Zucker who whacked a one-timer. Positioned in his own slot, Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad allowed the puck to strike off his right toes, causing it to bounce off the ice and hop over Halak’s left shoulder. Zucker was credited with his 24th goal. Dumoulin had the only assist.
Things got heated at 16:00 of the second when Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba — a leading public enemy in Pittsburgh and a handful of other Eastern Conference locales — walloped Penguins forward Alex Nylander with a shoulder-on-shoulder check. Malkin and Zucker each jumped Trouba in response with Malkin taking a cross checking penalty.
The Penguins didn’t seem to question the legality of the hit. They just wanted to avenge a teammate.
“I didn’t think it was high,” Penguins forward Bryan Rust said. “A good hit. (Nylander) popped right back up. Our guys came to his defense. Just a fun hockey game.”
Another big hit led to another tying goal.
After losing the puck on a failed pass in the offensive zone, Malkin was slammed to the ice by Rangers forward Vince Trocheck above the left circle. As Malkin struggled to recover to his skates, Trocheck claimed the puck at his blue line and spearheaded a three-on-two rush into the Penguins’ zone from the right wing. Off the half wall, Trocheck slipped a centering pass to the slot for Kreider who scorched Jarry’s blocker with a wrister. Trocheck, of Upper St. Clair, tallied the only assist.
The Penguins felt Trocheck’s check warranted an infraction. Regardless, they remained composed.
“Sometimes it gets chippy but you have to keep your head,” Letang said. “It’s not like they went ahead, 4-1. It’s still a tie game and you have to keep competing.”
The Penguins did just that and claimed victory beyond the bounds of regulation.
During a four-on-three power-play sequence, Malkin slid a pass from the right circle of the offensive zone to the high slot where Letang swatted a one-timer past Halak’s glove. Assists went to Malkin and Crosby.
The result opened the door, albeit slightly, for the Penguins (34-22-10, 78 points) to catch the Rangers (37-19-10, 84 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
“We know what type of game it’s going to be against them every time,” Zucker said. “They’re obviously big rivals of ours. Somebody that we’re looking to catch in the standings.”
Notes:
• Before Sunday, the Penguins’ last regular season overtime win against the Rangers was a 5-4 road victory on Jan. 30, 2021. Crosby scored against goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to win the game.
• Dumoulin has a three-game scoring streak.
• Penguins defensemen P.O Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel were each healthy scratches while forward Nick Bonino was scratched for the second consecutive game due to a lacerated kidney.
• Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere appeared in his 200th career game.