Coming off three straight non-playoff seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins began establishing themselves as an improved team with a shutout win over the New York Rangers in the season opener on Oct 7.
Nearly four months later, the Penguins are rolling toward a return to the postseason as they attempt to beat the Rangers for the third time when the Metropolitan Division rivals conclude the season series Saturday afternoon in New York.
Pittsburgh won two of the first three meetings after going 4-7-0 against the Rangers in the previous three seasons. The Penguins earned a 3-0 win in New York as part of a 9-4-2 start and posted a 6-5 home win on Jan. 31 in the finale of their second six-game winning streak this season.
Pittsburgh is 9-1-2 in its past 12 contests since scoring twice in a three-game losing streak from Jan. 10-13. Seven of those wins are by at least three goals, including Thursday’s 4-1 home win over the New Jersey Devils.
The Penguins scored at least four goals for the ninth time in their hot streak and did so after putting Sidney Crosby on injured reserve after the star captain was injured playing for Canada in the Olympics.
“He’s a big part of the team, but there’s guys who can step up,” Pittsburgh goalie Arturs Silovs said. “If we can do it for the time (until) he comes back, we’re going to be in a great spot.”
Evgeni Malkin had two assists when he set up goals by Tommy Novak and Egor Chinakhov and the 39-year-old has three goals and 11 assists during Pittsburgh’s surge. Chinakhov also has nine goals since his Penguins debut on Jan. 1.
“This is such an exciting time of year,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “Every night, every point matters. Every point is so important. So, you know, you can’t take any days off. You quickly, quickly move on to that next game because they’re all coming quick. That’s what makes it fun.”
The Rangers hardly are experiencing any fun as they enter their final three games before the March 6 trade deadline. New York tied its season worst with a fifth straight loss when it took a 3-2 overtime home setback to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
New York held a two-goal lead on goals by Sam Carrick and Alexis Lafreniere but allowed the tying goal 39 seconds into the third in a game when it finished with 25 shots on goal and conceded five power plays.
The loss continued a two-month skid for the Rangers, who traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings before the All-Star break and occurred as defenseman Adam Fox and goalie Igor Shesterkin returned from lengthy absences.
“I thought it was OK,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said about Shesterkin and Fox’s first appearances since Jan. 5. “I think they’re capable of another level. I mean, Foxy’s missed a lot of hockey so, you know, it’s going to take him some time to get into the game, the game speed, the game timing, things of that nature. He’s missed so much time. I would anticipate Foxy getting better with each game that he plays. He’s just missed so much time.”
The Rangers are 2-11-2 in their past 15 games and Thursday marked the ninth time they were held to two goals or fewer in that span. New York also is 1-6-1 at home during this skid that sent them to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and was held to two goals or fewer for the 32nd time this season.
