Today, the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins by the final score of 5-2. It was a great day for the Rangers, as they finally showed the offense that was there during their previous win streaks. Here is a recap of today’s game:
FIRST PERIOD
The Rangers wasted no time getting started. Just 26 seconds in, after a point pass bounced over Kris Letang’s stick, Rick Nash picked up the puck and started down the wing. While he had Mats Zuccarello with him, Nash fired the puck on the net and beat Marc-Andre Fleury low to the blocker side for his 27th goal of the season. Less than six minutes later, the Rangers struck again. After a shot from Kevin Klein went high off the glass, it took a weird carom back to the slot. Derick Brassard was there to fire it home past Fleury, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead and getting his 12th of the year. However, Pittsburgh would not go quietly. After the Rangers took their third, yes third penalty, Pittsburgh converted on the power play. After some very quick puck movement from the league’s fifth best unit, newcomer David Perron made a beautiful pass to captain Sidney Crosby at the side of the net, and he deposited it to the back of the net, his 15th goal of the season. The Rangers had a few late power plays, but were unable to convert. At the end of one, the Rangers were up 2-1 and were outshooting Pittsburgh 12-11
SECOND PERIOD
Again, the Rangers wasted no time getting going in the second. At 2:39, after a face-off win from Derick Brassard, Rick Nash backed up to the blue line and let a shot go, but the puck was rolling. Rob Scuderi and Mats Zuccarello were standing in front of Fleury, and the puck went off of Scuderi’s stick, hit Fleury and went to the back of the net, giving Nash his league leading 28th. Just 2:55 seconds later, the Rangers extended their lead. On the power play the Rangers moved the puck behind the net and it found its way to Martin St. Louis. After looking over his options, he fired a perfect cross ice pass to Derek Stepan, and he fired it passed Fleury for his seventh of the year, and the last goal Fleury would give up as he was pulled directly after. The Rangers were all over the Penguins, and after two periods, the Rangers lead 4-1 and were outshooting the Penguins 24-19.
THIRD PERIOD
Even though the Rangers were playing extremely well, the Penguins would not quit. With just 4:16 gone by in the third, David Perron tried to break in alone. Even though he couldn’t get through, he was going to draw a penalty, but he was able to slide the puck through the legs of Henrik Lundqivst for his 10th of the year, from Rob Bortuzzo and Letang. After his goal, the Penguins kept pushing, but they were able to slow them down. After a broken rush up the ice by the Rangers, Derek Stepan found the loose puck and fired it past backup Thomas Greiss for his second of the game and eighth of the year. Even after his goal, the Penguins kept coming, but Lundqvist was great and was able to shut them down. The Rangers skated off with a 5-2 win, and are now just two points behind Pittsburgh for second in the Metropolitan division.
THREE STARS
1st- Derek Stepan: 2 goals
2nd- Rick Nash: 2 goals
3rd- Derick Brassard: 1 goal, 1 assist
For their next game, the Rangers take on the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden, their last before the all-star break. Tune in for that game, it should be fun.