New York Rangers Lose to Penguins in Controversial Shootout

2. 95. 3. 92. Final

FIRST PERIOD: The rivalry was evident right from puck drop as we heard trash talking early on between the teams. The first penalty of the game was given at 9:50 to the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ Paul Martin for cross checking, yet the Pens were able to execute on the PK. The first goal of the game was picked up by Pens’ Blake Comeau (4) on a snap shot at 14:12, Patric Hornqvist (10) and Evgeni Malkin (12) grabbed assists. The New York Rangers replied just seconds later at 14:27 with a backhand from Lee Stempniak (4), assists collected by Dan Girardi (5) and Carl Hagelin (3). Another Rangers power play was brought on by a slashing call on Pens’ Steve Downie at 15:06. Martin St. Louis (6) scored a power play goal at 16:24, while Derick Brassard (8) and Rick Nash (7) supplied the assists. A third Rangers PP occurred after 19:43 when Pens’ Christian Ehrhoff headed to the penalty box for hooking. The period ended with a Rangers lead, 2-1, and a tie for shots on goal, 14-14.

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SECOND PERIOD: Pens started this period with a successful penalty kill. Girardi was then called at 5:07 for holding and the Rangers had their turn with an effective PK. The score was brought to a tie at 2-2 when Malkin (7) slipped the equalizer past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist at 8:09, Nick Spaling (3) credited with an assist. Pittsburgh outshot the Rangers, 15-6.

THIRD PERIOD: John Moore logged a penalty for tripping at 8:45. On the Pens power play, Crosby literally jumped on Hank yet the ref denied a penalty there. At 13:45, Girardi was leveled by Malkin on a clean yet hard hit that left the Ranger down on the ice for some time. Medical trainer, Jim Ramsay, rushed onto the ice to check on Girardi and eventually helped him to the locker room. Meanwhile at 13:47, both Malkin and Marc Staal were given penalties for roughing. 60 minutes of play didn’t suffice and thus the teams headed into OT. The Rangers were outshot in the third, 7-6.

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OVERTIME: Right into it, Lundqvist made an amazing breakaway save on Crosby. The puck then found both ends of the rink as goalies Hank and Marc-Andre Fleury were tested, yet the score was left intact. Iron Man, Girardi, surprisingly came back onto the ice less than halfway through OT. Kris Letang and Hagelin each received slashing penalties and at 2:49 we saw 3-on-3 hockey. Kreider was taken down on a breakaway, leading to a tripping penalty on Rob Scuderi at 3:18. Alain Vigneault looked for a penalty shot here, yet never got it. Thus, we had 4-on-3 hockey until Letang left the box for a breakaway, Lundqvist making another spectacular save. OT ended and the Rangers were outshot again, this time 4-3, and were weak in face-offs overall, 34-25, as we headed to the shootout.

SHOOTOUT: Pens were up first as Malkin was stopped by Lundqvist. Stepan opened up for the Rangers and scored on Fleury. Crosby answered back with a quick release and found the net, tying the shootout at 1-1. Zuccarello was denied by Fleury with a poke check. Then Letang’s chance was swiped away by Lundqvist.

And this is where it got interesting: Dan Boyle used quick hands to slip the puck into the net and the Rangers won! Both teams left the ice and the fans started leaving the stadium ….BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE HOCKEY. Toronto picked up the review on Boyle’s goal and the refs announced a no-goal based on double contact on the puck by the skater. The teams were called back from the locker rooms and the shootout continued.

Brandon Sutter took his turn and scored on Lundqvist while Nash failed to bury the puck, and the Penguins won the whole shebang, 3-2.

STARS OF THE GAME:

1 – Evgeni Malkin

2 – Marc-Andre Fleury

3 – Henrik Lundqvist

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