The New York Rangers won 8-4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday. “So many goals,” said the Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko after the game.
This game marked the first time since 2010 eight different Rangers players scored a goal in one game.
Rangers quickly establish lead
About two minutes into the game, the Rangers’ Colin Blackwell scored the first goal. He attempted to make a pass, but the puck bounced off of the Penguins’ Mike Matheson into the net. Jacob Trouba and Artemi Panarin record assists on the goal.
The Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad scored next, despite the Penguins’ great efforts to tie the game – 30 shot attempts total in the first period, and 18 shots on goal.
Pavel Buchnevich took the puck deep into the Rangers’ offensive zone with star forward, Sidney Crosby, playing defense against him. Penguins’ goaltender Tristan Jarry blocked Buchnevich’s shot, but Zibanejad followed through behind Buchnevich and put the puck over Jarry’s shoulder and in the net. This established a 2-0 lead for the Rangers.
Not long after, the Penguins’ Radim Zohorna took a penalty for hooking against Brendan Smith.
The Rangers won the face-off in their offensive zone on the power play, then Panarin scored a goal of his own, assisted by Adam Fox and Chris Kreider. Immediately following this goal the Penguins coaching staff called a time-out. In scoring this goal Panarin brought the Rangers’ lead to 3-0 and made Tuesday’s game his 13th muti-point game of the season.
The Penguins also scored on their first power play after winning a face-off. Ryan Lindgren took a penalty for holding against Crosby. Seconds into the power play, Jared McCann scored assisted by Kris Letang and Crosby.
Matheson and Alexis Lafrenière were both sent to the penalty box for roughing following a brief altercation, resulting in a full two-minute four-on-four.
The Rangers had another power play after Brian Dumoulin received a penalty for holding against Zibanejad. Ryan Strome took a turn at scoring a power play goal this time around, assisted by Fox and Panarin who sent across a long pass. Kreider provided a screen in front of Jarry.
Scoring slows down in the second
Penguins’ goaltender Casey DeSmith started the second period and finished the game. He replaced Jarry, who had started the game in the net for the Penguins, but allowed four goals on 11 shots in the first period . This was Jarry’s first game back on the ice after an upper-body injury March 30.
Lindgren took the first penalty of the second period for high-sticking against McCann. For the first time in Tuesday’s game the power play did not result in a goal.
Rangers’ goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, who played a remarkable game Tuesday, played the puck and it sailed over all the skaters and into the blue paint where DeSmith covered it. Shesterkin made numerous big saves and seems to have attempted to contribute offensively as well. He’s always given us a chance to win,” said Fox about Shesterkin after the game. “We feel confident when he’s in the net.”
The Penguins’ Evan Rodrigues went on a breakaway that may have resulted in a goal, had the puck not bounced off the crossbar.
Later in the second period, both teams each scored a goal, with the Penguins answering to the Rangers’ goal seconds later.
Lafrenière scored a goal assisted by Kakko and Filip Chytil who passed the puck up from the corner despite heavy opposition. “I was lucky enough that it went in,” said Lafrenière. “Shesty has been good, but we have to help him,” he continued. Lafrenière did help defensively when he put an end to a breakaway by McCann.
Matheson quickly made the score 5-2 instead of 5-1 assisted by Colton Sceviour and Mark Jankowski.
Rangers finish 3-for-3 on power plays
In the third period the Rangers maintained their streak with a third power play and a third power play goal – their final of each for the night, giving them a perfect three-out-of-three.
Kakko tipped the puck in off of a shot by Trouba to score his first power play goal of the season, with 20 seconds left in the power play. Blackwell also assisted on the goal. “We have good plays and we have the players to have a good power play,” said Zibanejad.
Once again, the Penguins quickly answered with a goal of their own, scored by Guentzel and assisted by Letang and Matheson.
Buchnevich then took a penalty for tripping against John Marino.
Then, Fox scored a short-handed goal assisted by Zibanejad and Strome. Zibanejad took the puck down in front of the goal and Strome helped to keep the puck from going out onto neutral ice. Suddenly, Fox skated in, taking a pass and sending the puck to the back of the net.
After serving his penalty, Buchnevich exited onto the ice, immediately joined the play and quickly scored a goal, bringing the score to 8-3. Panarin and Chytil assisted on the goal.
Zach Aston-Reese and Trouba received minor penalties against each other for roughing, brining about another four-on-four.
Afterward, with about two minutes left, Dumoulin scored the final goal of the game, making the score 8-4. Zohorna and Jankowski recorded assists on the goal. A delayed penalty had been called on the play against the Rangers that was cancelled out by the goal being scored.
By winning this game the Rangers gained two points in the NHL standings. However, they are still five points behind the Boston Bruins who hold the bottom playoff spot in the East Division.
Rangers’ coach David Quinn said it was a funny game. “We’re going to have to play better than that if we want to win consistently,” he said after the game.
The Rangers and the Penguins will play each other again Thursday at 7 p.m. EST.
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