Penguins end four-game slide with shootout win
NEW YORK -- Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby scored in the shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
With 11.6 seconds remaining in regulation and Henrik Lundqvist on the bench for an extra skater, Chris Kreider jammed home the tying goal for the Rangers after Penguins goaltender Matt Murray made two consecutive stops. The Rangers were down 3-1 with 11:10 remaining in the game.
The win moved the Penguins (47-19-11) within one point of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who were playing later Friday, for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Crosby had a goal and an assist. Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust also scored for the Penguins, who received 30 saves from Murray.
Nick Holden and Rick Nash scored for the Rangers (46-26-6). Lundqvist allowed three goals on 35 shots and is winless in three starts since returning from a hip injury last week.
The Rangers have lost eight straight games at home.
After a scoreless first period, Guentzel gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead 39 seconds into the second period just as a power-play expired. Kessel made a pass through a seam to Crosby, who whipped back across to the ice to Guentzel, who tapped it home near the crease.
Crosby made it 2-0 at 10:46 when he banked the puck off Lundqvist's head and into the net from along the goal line for his league-leading 43rd goal.
Holden responded with a power-play goal with 26.2 seconds left. After Penguins defenseman Mark Streit was whistled for tripping Nash, Holden cut the Penguins' lead to 2-1 when his shot from just inside the blue line beat a screened Murray to the stick side.
Rust restored the two-goal lead at 6:46 of the third period. Ian Cole fed the puck to the slot for Rust, who snapped a shot between Lundqvist's legs to make it 3-1.
Nash came right back and cut the lead to 3-2 at 8:50. J.T. Miller set up the play off the rush and Nash finished from a deep angle with a shot that slipped just inside the far post.
NOTES: Penguins D Ron Hainsey and LW Jake Guentzel were back in the lineup after extended injury absences due to injury. ... Penguins C Evgeni Malkin missed his eighth straight game with a shoulder injury, although he has been skating on his own. ... Rangers D Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) did not play. Coach Alain Vigneault said his captain's injury wasn't serious. ... Rangers LW Jimmy Vesey was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The rookie has just one goal and two assists in his past 15 games.