Rangers beat Penguins despite Guentzel's impressive debut
PITTSBURGH -- Three unanswered goals by the New York Rangers in the second period negated a smashing NHL debut by Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel, as the Rangers prevailed over the Penguins 5-2 Monday at PPG Paints Arena.
Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller scored in the second after Guentzel scored his first two goals, including one on his first shift and first shot, in the opening period.
Kevin Hayes added an insurance goal for the Rangers at 12:46 of the third, and Derek Stepan scored an empty-netter.
The win allowed New York to break a two-game losing streak and stiff-arm Pittsburgh atop the Metropolitan Division. The teams play the second half of a back-to-back set Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.
The Penguins called up Guentzel because winger Chris Kunitz was put on injured reserve. He played in Kunitz's spot on the second line.
Guentzel, 22, a third-round draft pick in 2013, cashed in for a 1-0 lead at 1:02 of the first. His shot from just below the left dot slid under goaltender Antti Raanta's left pad and inside the far post. An astute broadcast crew caught Guentzel's family jumping up and down in wild celebration in the stands.
Guentzel wasn't the first Penguins player to score on his first shot in the NHL, or the most famous. The most recent was defenseman Derrick Pouliot, who did it Dec. 20, 2014, against Florida. The most notable was Hall of Fame center Mario Lemieux, who did it Oct. 11, 1984, at Boston.
Neither of those players got another goal in the same period, however. Guentzel made it 2-0 at 13:12 on a close-range rebound, giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 edge.
Nash pulled the Rangers to within 2-1 at 4:51 of the second. He pounced on a loose puck near the crease and lifted it over the glove of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
At 14:23 of the second, Grabner grabbed a share of the NHL goal lead with his 12th and tied the score 2-2 when he rifled a shot under the crossbar.
New York took a 3-2 lead with a shorthanded goal with 48.5 seconds left in the second. Kevin Hayes' pass for Miller glanced in off of Miller's leg.
NOTES: Pittsburgh placed LW Chris Kunitz (lower body) on injured reserve. Coach Mike Sullivan said Kunitz will be out on a "week to week" basis. ... To fill Kunitz's roster spot, the Penguins recalled C Jake Guentzel from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. Guentzel made his NHL debut. ... Pittsburgh RW Patric Hornqvist (concussion) continues to skate on his own. ... The Rangers claimed F Matt Puempel off waivers from Ottawa. Puempel did not play Monday, and it is not clear whether he will join New York or be given a minor league assignment. ... With C Mika Zibanejad (broken left leg) out for several weeks, the Rangers dressed C Oscar Lindberg, who had played in seven of the previous 14 games. ... New York coach Alain Vigneault said RW Pavel Buchnevich (back spasms) will be out at least another two to three weeks while he undergoes rehab to strengthen his core. ... The Penguins collected donations for policeman Scott Bashioum's family. Bashioum was killed in the line of duty recently in nearby Canonsburg, Pa.