The New York Rangers played another highly inspired game and, as a result, forced a Game 7 in a series that looked over less than a few days ago.
Marty St. Louis and Carl Hagelin each scored for the Rangers in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist held down the Rangers’ net en route to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
St. Louis, who was playing on Mother’s Day just days after losing his mother, scored 3:34 into the game to give New York a 1-0 lead. Anton Stralman’s shot from the point was stopped by Marc-Andre Fleury and the rebound looked like it was chipped wide by Derek Stepan. Instead, the puck bounced off of St. Louis’s leg and deflected into the net.
Three minutes later, Hagelin scored to increase the lead to two. Hagelin attempted to center a pass to Brad Richards during a two on one but couldn’t connect. Instead, Hagelin regathered the puck, skated towards the middle of the offensive zone and backhanded a shot through a screened Fleury.
The Penguins got a goal back on a lucky bounced of their own. Brandon Sutter threw a bouncing puck towards the goal that deflected off a defenseman before going into the net.
It was the closest the Penguins would get.
Henrik Lundqvist made 36 saves including two breakaway stops while the Rangers were on the power play.
Derick Brassard added his fourth goal of the playoffs to increase the lead back to two.
Pittsburgh outshot New York 11-4 in the final period but couldn’t get anything past Lundqvist. Their offense took awhile to get in a groove in the final period after the Penguins started the first five minutes killing two penalties.
Game 7 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Consol.
Three Stars
- Martin St. Louis
- Henrik Lundqvist
- Derick Brassard
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
