Rangers Clobber Hated Penguins 5-2 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh Sunday Afternoon

Photo Credit
Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images

The New York Rangers played the final game of their 3-game road trip in Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon (01/18/15) against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and came away with a dominating 5-2 win. The Rangers got back to what they do best by playing a control game. New York won 52% of faceoffs, moved the puck on the first pass out of the zone and dominated play in the neutral zone. Rick Nash scored his 27th goal at 00:26 in the first period on a terrific breakaway down the left wing. Nash ripped a wrist shot short side of Penguins goalie Fleury and many cheers were heard among the hostile fans. At 6:08 in the first Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein blasted a shot from the right point. On the rebound, Derrick Brassard picked up the puck, spun around, and scored his 12th from the slot. Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz set the tone early by diving within the first three minutes of the game. The Rangers killed the penalty and late in the first the diving continued by Nick Spaling. Sidney Crosby scored a power play goal on a tap in at 15:08 of the first that brought the score to 2-1 Rangers. Nash scored his second goal of the game and 28th of the season at 2:39 in the second period. Nash’s shot was deflected off of Rob Scuderi’s stick that ended up in the net. Pittsburgh was called for yet another penalty, this time a delay of game and they paid. Derek Stepan scored his 7th goal of the year, a power play goal at 5:34 in the second. Stepan’s wrist shot from the left faceoff circle gave the Rangers the 4-1 lead. After that goal, Fleury, who made 13 saves on 17 shots, was pulled from the game and replaced by Thomas Greiss. Penguin David Perron scored his 10th goal of the year at 4:16 in the third. Perron split the defense, then slipped the puck past Lundqvist’s five hole. Stepan (8) scored his second of the game at 6:15 in the third that brought the score to 5-2. One of the best moments of the game came in the third period. Crosby took a masterful dive behind the Rangers net, stayed down on the ice, then looked up. When the ref’s arm was not raised, Crosby slammed his stick on the back boards and cried en route to the bench. Good times were had by all Ranger fans! The Blueshirts were excellent from the opening faceoff, making this two strong games in-a-row. Lundqvist made 32 saves and once again was solid in net. This Tuesday my Wife and I are looking forward to going to the game at Madison Square Garden. The three stars of the game were Derek Stepan, Rick Nash and Derick Brassard.