PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After the worst period they played in the series and really one of the worst all year, the Pens found a way to return to their game and beat the Rangers 7-4 Saturday and take a two-games-to-one lead in the best of seven series.
"We got away from the game that brought us success," Sullivan said after a dominating first period. "That's the human element of sports. I said to the guys after the game, what might be the most rewarding part for me as the coach is winning this game."
"A lot of teams when you give up a three-goal lead and allow a team back into the game in the fashion that we did. In a lot of those instances, a lot of teams don't recover from that. I think it speaks volumes for the character of the group and the leadership that we have that we were able to move by it."
How it happened
It started innocently enough as Brock McGinn just trying to throw something on net from behind the cage got a fortunate bounce. Originally called a no goal because Igor Shesterkin knocked the net off the supports, replay overturned and a 1-0 Pens lead, under two minutes into the game.
Rangers answer about three minutes later as Kaapo Kakko left alone on the left side beats Louis Domingue to tie the game.
Evan Rodrigues would take over from there. First the slapper with Jeff Carter in front, credited to Carter and a 2-1 lead. A high stick to Jason Zucker gave the Pens a power play and Rodrigues on the second unit would drive in his own rebound off the back wall, Domingue would assist on the goal. Rodrigues finished the scoring in the first on an assist from Brian Boyle for his first two career playoff goals.
What you never thought you would hear in the series-"now in goal for the New York Rangers…". A goalie change and while Alexandar Georgiev wouldn't face a shot until nearly halfway through the period, his teammates were fired up. The Rangers dominated the second period for three goals and an 18-7 shot advantage. One of the goals by Pens-killer Frank Vatrano.
Rangers started in control of the third before the Pens gained momentum for what has been an albatross for them over the last seven games-two straight stops from the penalty kill. The momentum would carry over into offensive zone time and after Evgeni Malkin knocked the Rangers off the puck in their own corner, Danton Heinen grabbed it and fired it past Gregorgiev and the Pens regained the lead with nearly nine minutes to play. Jake Guentzel and Carter would add empty net goals for the 7-4 final.
"It was huge for momentum, it could go both ways there," Heinen said about the two penalty kills. "It was huge, then we got back to our game. Malkin made a great forecheck there."
"It was a great start for us, we let our foot off the gas in the second," Rodrigues said. "We came back in the third, went back to the way we started the game. It was a big win for us."
"The biggest takeaway from tonight, we didn't love the second period," Sullivan said. "The fact we were able to respond the way we did in the third, to me, I couldn't be more proud of the team."
Numbers
· Louis Domingue stopped 32 of 36 shots for his second career playoff win
· In 54 career playoff games, Guentzel now has 30 goals
· Sidney Crosby with a pair of assists ties Jari Kurri for seventh on the NHL all-time playoff list. Crosby is one behind Doug Gilmour (128) for sixth place.
· It was Crosby's 66th career multi-point playoff game-3rd all-time
· Jeff Carter now has 45 career playoff goals in 129 games
· Defenseman Mike Matheson had three assists yet his defensive partner Kris Letang had no points
Lines
Forward Rickard Rakell and defenseman Brian Dumoulin remained out.
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Evgeni Malkin-Kasperi Kapanen
Jason Zucker-Jeff Carter-Brock McGinn
Brian Boyle-Teddy Blueger-Evan Rodrigues
Mike Matheson-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
Mark Friedman-Chad Ruhwedel
Up Next
Game 4 of the series is Monday night at 7p at PPG Paints Arena.
