Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (SO)
Brandon Sutter scored in regulation before netting the lone goal of the shootout in the fifth round as injury-ravaged Pittsburgh skated to its fifth straight victory and 10th in 11 outings by edging host New York.
Chris Kunitz nearly ended the contest 14 seconds into overtime after backhanding a shot on Henrik Lundqvist (29 saves) - but the Penguins forward barreled into the netminder to send the Rangers on the power play. New York failed to convert on that opportunity and Marc-Andre Fleury (29 saves) picked up his NHL-best 20th win by denying all five shooters before Sutter's wrist shot handcuffed Lundqvist to end the contest.
Kunitz netted his team-leading ninth power-play goal and 18th of the season before adding an assist as the Penguins moved three points ahead of idle Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Pascal Dupuis also tallied and captain Sidney Crosby notched a pair of assists to extend his point streak to eight games.
Derick Brassard scored a power-play goal to forge a 3-3 tie with 1:46 remaining in the third period. Carl Hagelin tallied for the second straight contest and Mats Zuccarello also scored for the Rangers, who fell to 1-3-2 on their franchise-high nine-game homestand.
After Dupuis and Sutter scored 61 seconds apart early in the third period to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead, Zuccarello trimmed the deficit with 7:17 remaining after gaining inside position on forward Zach Sill before tapping home a loose puck in the crease. With Pittsburgh defenseman Matt Niskanen serving a high-sticking penalty, Brassard blasted a rebound off the end boards past Fleury from the lower edge of the left circle.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin missed the contest with a lower-body injury and has already been ruled out for Thursday's contest against Minnesota. The Penguins were also without top defensemen Brooks Orpik (concussion), Paul Martin (lower body), Rob Scuderi (ankle) and Kris Letang (upper body). ... Prior to the contest, Pittsburgh D Deryk Engelland was suspended five games for an illegal check to the head of Detroit LW Justin Abdelkader during Saturday's tilt. LW James Neal served the final contest of his five-game suspension on Wednesday. ... New York assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson watched as son Philip played in his second career NHL contest with the Penguins.