From Silent to Surging: Rangers Complete Comeback Over Pittsburgh
When it comes to hockey, a matchup of division rivals is always the right way to kick off another great day. In this case, both New York and Pittsburgh collide after facing division rivals less than 48 hours ago. Following an overtime loss to Philadelphia, the New York Rangers continue their evaluations to build for the future while making the most of these likely last few games with Vincent Trocheck. As for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they sit second in a tight Metropolitan Division and will need all the help they can get without the face of their franchise, Sidney Crosby. A pleasant surprise collides with a big disappointment in Madison Square Garden, but only one team comes out on top. A game worth watching to start the day of hockey, as the New York Rangers overcome a two-goal deficit and defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout at MSG.
The puck hit the ice, and the pressure from the Pittsburgh Penguins gave them the immediate edge. Less than a minute in, Pittsburgh found themselves on the power play as Braden Schneider was sent off for holding. With an early chance to quiet MSG, Pittsburgh capitalized right off the bat with a shot from Erik Karlsson from the top of the zone, tipped by Anthony Mantha, making it 1-0 Penguins just more than two minutes in. Frustrating already, Vincent Trocheck would go on to take an unsportsmanlike penalty, putting Pittsburgh back on their second power play in less than three minutes. Pittsburgh would soon double their lead as Bryan Rust, all alone from the circle, made it 2-0 Penguins, but not before a quick challenge by Mike Sullivan. A short look later, and Rust's goal was waved off due to goaltender interference, a quick break, but plenty of power play left to kill.
As the power play concluded, New York was in much need of a response, with little or no offense being generated. With Pittsburgh taking most of these puck battles, the Rangers had no answer, leaving them to play on their heels through most of the first. As the Rangers continued to simply survive the Pittsburgh offense, including a shot off the crossbar by Rust, fans were left with nothing to cheer for. Blake Lizotte would later go off for tripping, giving New York their first power play, but to no avail. Similar to their power play against the Flyers, nothing could be generated for the Rangers, and Pittsburgh would soon get their third power play. As Vladislav Gavrikov went off for holding, but were unable to capitalize as the first period concluded, taking their 1-0 lead to the second.
The second period began, and New York survived yet another Pittsburgh power play, but still found themselves down 2-0 to start the period. A nifty move by Ryan Shea from the top of the zone, followed by a simple fling to the net as the puck deflected off Scott Morrow and past Igor Shetserkin. Held to just two shots on goal in the game, New York had no answer at all in the Penguins' zone, MSG remaining dead silent. Another power play for the Blueshirts as Rickard Rakell took down Will Cuylle with a hook, giving them their chance to get on the board at last, and so they did. Plenty of passing later, Trocheck sets up Mika Zibanejad beautifully to make it 2-1. A slow start or not, the score was now 2-1, and the Rangers were back in the game.
Sometimes all it takes is a single goal to start something big, and it sure felt that way as the Rangers picked up their pace. With the Pittsburgh goaltender Stuart Skinner now being tested at last, the crowd at MSG soon began to come alive, but the score remained 2-1 Penguins. As the game began to feel much faster, neither team could put one in the back of the net, but the Rangers were the team that needed the equalizer. As the period came to a close, the score remained 2-1, with twenty minutes for the Rangers claw their way back and tie this one up.
Period number three was underway, and the score remained the same. Similar to how the second period ended, New York had the momentum while the Penguins defended their 2-1 lead, but it would soon be lost. Less than three minutes into the period, Gavrikov came in with all kinds of room and found Taylor Raddysh with an easy tap-in to tie this game up at two. What looked like an obvious blowout for Pittsburgh now turned into a tie game with 17 minutes of hockey left. A few chances presented themselves for either team, but the score remained tied, yet another game in MSG at the chance of going to overtime. As the final seconds ticked off, another division matchup would again be too great without a little extra hockey.
The puck dropped in overtime, and six men on the ice went at it. While not much went on to start, both teams had their chances, but these goaltenders wouldn't be beaten that easily, and the game soon went to a shootout. A miss by Mantha was followed by a quick-release goal by Trocheck, round one to the Rangers. It all came down to round three for Pittsburgh, but Thomas Novak was unable to find the back of the net as the New York Rangers completed the comeback and took this one 3-2. The Blueshirts will remain at home and take on Columbus, yet another division rival. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh makes their way home to take on the Vegas Golden Knights, hoping to keep keep their ground in such a tight Eastern Conference race.
