Penguins 3, Rangers 2 (SO)
Brandon Sutter scored in the fourth round as host Pittsburgh benefited from a disallowed goal in the shootout to skate to its ninth win in 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist closed his pads to deny Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on a breakaway early in overtime and made a glove save on defenseman Kris Letang in the waning moments. Dan Boyle appeared to give New York the victory after he beat Marc-Andre Fleury inside the right post, but officials deemed that the Rangers defenseman hit the puck twice before Sutter's sharp wrist shot sailed between the pads of Lundqvist (36 saves) to lift Pittsburgh.
Evgeni Malkin collected a goal and an assist and also delivered a crushing hit that briefly knocked New York defenseman Dan Girardi out of the game in the third period. Blake Comeau also tallied and Fleury finished with 29 saves for the Penguins, who have won two straight following their 5-0 setback at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday and improved to 11-3-1 in their last 15 versus the Rangers.
Martin St. Louis scored his fifth goal in seven contests and former Penguin Lee Stempniak also tallied for New York. Playing in his 800th career contest, Rick Nash notched an assist to record his 100th point with the Rangers.
Patric Hornqvist skated up the middle of the ice before he set up Comeau, who one-timed a shot from the left circle that squeezed just inside the near post to draw first blood with 5:48 remaining in the first period. Stempniak answered 13 seconds later from the doorstep and St. Louis gave New York a 2-1 lead at 16:24 after his sharp-angle shot from in close beat a prone Fleury, but Malkin's one-timer caromed off both the right post and Lundqvist's back before crossing the goal line at 8:09 of the second.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Fireworks erupted between the teams after Malkin drilled Girardi while the latter had his head down as he attempted to play the puck behind the net with 6 1/2 minutes to play in the third. Girardi remained on the ice for several moments before retreating to the locker room. ... Crosby took issue with the officials by angrily slamming his stick against the glass after being taken down to his knees during a rush late in the second period. ... New York C Derick Brassard notched an assist to extend his point streak versus the Penguins to six games.