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New York Rangers: Never-say-die attitude helps to down Pens

By Andrew Steele-Davis

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 06: New York Rangers Left Wing Brendan Smith (42) scores past Pittsburgh Penguins Goalie Matt Murray (30) during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers on April 6, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 06: New York Rangers Left Wing Brendan Smith (42) scores past Pittsburgh Penguins Goalie Matt Murray (30) during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers on April 6, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 06: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates his overtime goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on April 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 06: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates his overtime goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on April 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Notes on the game

  • The New York Rangers finished the 2018-19 season with a record of 32-36-14.
  • They were 18-14-9 at Madison Square Garden and 14-22-5 on the road.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins finished the year 44-26-12 and will now take part in their 13th consecutive postseason.
  • After losing tonight, the Pens will begin the first round of the playoffs in New York against the New York Islanders.
  • The Blueshirts recorded their first win since the 3-0 success against the Philadelphia Flyers on Mar. 31.
  • NYR were outshot 39-30 by the Penguins and were also outdone 45% to 55% in the faceoff circle.
  • However, the Rangers won the physical battle, outhitting the Pens 37-24 and blocking 20 shots.
  • Despite winning in overtime on Saturday, the Rangers went 3-9 in five-minute overtime in 2018-19.
  • The Rangers forced Pittsburgh to go 0-for-4 on the power play and also inflicted a 15th shorthanded goal of the season on the Pens.
  • After going without a powerplay against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, the Blueshirts also never got the chance to go on the man advantage on Saturday.
  • Brady Skjei tallied his eighth goal of the season on Saturday, meaning he has achieved a new career high in that category this year.
  • That goal also ensured that four Rangers defensemen have recorded 25+ points in a season for the first time since 1984-85 (Skjei, Shattenkirk, Pionk, DeAngelo).
  • Vladislav Namestnikov scored a shorthanded goal to lead the Rangers in shorthanded points with five. It was the forward’s 11th goal of the season and his 29th point of the year.
  • Brendan Smith tallied his fourth goal of the season and his first-ever unassisted goal in his career. He also has three points in his last four games (one goal, two assists).
  • Ryan Strome continued his resurgence for the Rangers with his 19th goal of the season and his second overtime winner in less than a month.
  • Sidney Crosby registered two points (one goal, one assist) to finish the regular season with 101 points – the sixth time in his career that he has reached the 100 point plateau.
  • Nick Bjugstad recorded his 14th goal of the season for the Penguins – he finishes the regular season with 25 points.
  • It was also a memorable night for Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel who tallied his 40th goal of the year, becoming the 20th player in franchise history to achieve that feat. Guentzel is also the 12th NHL player to score 40 or more goals in 2018-19.
  • Alexandar Georgiev enjoyed another stellar night between the pipes for NYR, stopping 36 of 39 shots and further hammering home why he is the future for the franchise. His 33 games this year ranks second among NHL rookie goaltenders in appearances this season.
  • Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel accomplished quite the ironman feat on Saturday, skating in his 774th consecutive game, a remarkable stretch which spans over nine straight seasons. All those hot dogs obviously didn’t cause too much damage…
  • Consider this; after his first 38 games Pavel Buchnevich had nine goals, 1.4 shots per game and 14:30 of average ice time. In his last 25 games played he has scored 12 goals, averaged 2.5 shots per game and has been logging 16:09 of average ice time. Has the Russian finally come of age?
  • Mika Zibanejad is the only Ranger to have skated in all 82 games this season. He also leads NYR in ice time with 1,665:15 logged, becoming the first forward to lead the Blueshirts in total ice time since the stat was first tracked by the NHL in 1997-98.
  • Chris Kreider ranks second on the Blueshirts in goals (28) and hits (158), just one of three Rangers to have recorded at least 28 goals and 158 hits in the same season (Adam Graves – 1998-99, Ryan Callahan – 2011-12).
  • New York have played 42 games this year which was decided by one goal, tied for second-most in the NHL in 2018-19.
  • Filip Chytil, Tony DeAngelo, Jesper Fast, John Gilmour, Libor Hajek and Vinni Lettieri were all scratches for the Rangers.
  • The Penguins listed Zach Aston-Reese, Brian Dumoulin, Chad Ruhwedel, Zach Trotman as scratches.
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