RANGERS VS PENGUINS POST GAME WRAP UP 12/5

PAVELEC, RANGERS HOLD OFF PENS FOR 4-3 WIN

Filling in for Henrik Lundqvist who was scratched due to the flu, Backup Ondrej Pavelec held off a hot Pittsburgh Penguins team with a 41 save performance in net for the Rangers.

Another game where the Ranger played catch up hockey but came out on top, finding a way to win has been the norm of late for this Rangers team.

Down 1-0 in the first period Boo Nieves tallied his first NHL goal putting one past the Penguins hot hand Tristan Jarry to tie the game heading into intermission.

Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel put the Pens back on top to start the second period but the Rangers would once again catch up then take the lead on goals by Jesper Fast and Mats Zuccarello.

In the third period down one man with Kevin Shattenkirk in the box for slashing the Penguins managed to tie it up 3-3 when Patric Hornqvist went in all alone on Ondrej Pavelec and put one past the Rangers netminder.

The Rangers who had been run ragged for a few shifts in their end were finally able to clear the puck when Ryan McDonagh skated one out of their zone and into the Penguins end for the Rangers to get some fresh legs on the ice. Just a few seconds later Pavel Buchnevich banged one home on a deflection off Penguins Chris Kunitz’s stick and past Jarry for the eventual game winner. The Rangers and Pavelec were able to hold off the Pens and take 2 huge points.

In the second of four straight games vs Metro Division Rivals the Rangers are 2-0 having defeated both Carolina and Pittsburgh. Now Washington on Friday and new Jersey on Saturday at MSG remain in back to back games this weekend.

FINAL GAME STATS

New York Rangers 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3

GOALIES:

NYR Ondrej Pavelec 41 SV

PIT Tristan Jarry 25 SV

SOG:

NYR 29 PIT 44

PPO:

NYR 0/2 PIT 1/3

PIM:

NYR 4 PIT 2

FO WINS:

NYR 24 PIT 31

TAKEAWAYS:

NYR 5 PIT 10

GIVEAWAYS:

NYR 11 PIT 10

HITS:

NYR 16 PIT 20

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

15:13    PIT C. Sheary (9)
Assists: P. Hornqvist, K Letang    0-1

16:49    NYR B. Nieves (1)
Assists: K. Shattenkirk, M Zuccarello    1-1

2nd Period

7:11    PIT P. Kessel (13)
Assists: O. Maatta, J Guentzel    1-2

12:26    NYR J. Fast (5)
Assists: P. Carey, B Skjei    2-2

17:20    NYR M. Zuccarello (5)
Assists: B. Smith, J Miller    3-2

3rd Period

3:35    PIT P. Hornqvist (11) (Power Play)
Assists: I. Cole, E Malkin    3-3

11:12    NYR P. Buchnevich (10)
Assists: D. Desharnais, C Kreider    4-3

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

17:43    PIT I. Cole: 2 Minutes for Tripping R. Nash

2nd Period

8:20    NYR J.T. Miller: 2 Minutes for Hooking B. Rust

14:37    NYR K. Shattenkirk: 2 Minutes for Hooking B. Rust

3rd Period

1:16    PIT M. Hunwick: 2 Minutes for Hooking C. Kreider

2:16    NYR K. Shattenkirk: 2 Minutes for Slashing R. Sheahan

3 STARS OF THE GAME
1. MATS ZUCCARELLO NYR
2. Patric Hornqvist PIT
3. PAVEL BUCHNEVICH NYR