In Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby’s third period goal was the difference on Tuesday in a 3-2 win for the Penguins over the New York Rangers.
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak the Rangers were working on.
“We have a lot of respect for their team. They’re a good hockey team,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’ve had a lot of close games against them over the last couple of years. Every time we play them, they seem to go down to one goal. It’s a big play here or there, a key play. That’s just the nature of the game.”
Tristan Jarry made 26 saves in the Pittsburgh win.
“You have to have different games for every scenario,” said Jarry. “Sometimes you’re not going to see a lot of shots. Just being prepared for as many shots as you get, I think that’s key. Making sure you’re at your best for everyone.”
The Penguins improved to 19-9-4.
“I thought we played a great game,” New York coach Gerard Gallant said. “We worked hard. We competed hard. We came in here and played a real good team over there. The game was a toss-up.”
After Crosby made it 3-1 in the third, Chris Kreider hit for his ecod goal of the game to cut it to 3-“Every year is so different,” Kreider said. “I think that it’s two teams competing for a playoff spot in the same division. So it’s always going to be competitive. It’s always going to be not a lot of time and space out there. A good test for us tonight.” 2.
Kreider’s first goal came in the opening period for a 1-0 lead.
The Rangers dropped to 18-11-5.
The Pens replied with two goal in the middle frame.
Evgeni Malkin hit on the power play to tie it, 1-1.
Bryan Rust also struck on the power play for a 2-1 lead to the Pens in the second.
“We weren’t as good as we would’ve liked to be through the first half of the game,” Rust said. “We weren’t on our toes. We weren’t fighting that hard. For some odd reason, we weren’t in a game that we should’ve been. I think getting those power-play goals really gave us a shot in the arm.”
Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves for in the loss.
“Had a lot of fight in the third,” New York’s Vincent Trocheck said. “I liked the way we played for the most part, but there were a few shifts during the second, and I just feel like that goal in the third, that we need to tighten up.”
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