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AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

It’s been a few games since I’ve written one of these and made gifs. So….hooray I’m back!

The Rangers came out last night in Pittsburgh very sluggish, spotting the Penguins a quick two-goal lead while playing sloppy hockey. But the second period, which has been their favorite period, proved to be the difference again. The Rangers scored three times in the second, from three different goal scorers to take the lead for good. A fourth goal was added in the third (and a fifth into the empty net) as the Rangers continued to press for insurance.

This was a much better overall game than we’ve seen in games past, and a great character win for a team that needed to right the ship. They were sloppy early, they tightened it up in the second, and then let the offensive juices flow. Antti Raanta was shaky early too, but was much better after a weak goal. He outdueled Marc-Andre Fleury, with both goalies making some solid saves.

On to the goals:

Penguins 1, Rangers 0

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No way around it, this is a bad goal, and it gave Jake Guentzel his first career goal on his first career shot. But I will say that the turnover happened when Nick Holden dumped the puck into the neutral zone, effectively giving it back to the Penguins. That’s a turnover, and it’s something most of the Rangers blue liners do regularly.

Penguins 2, Rangers 0

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Jimmy Vesey turned the puck over at the blue line, which sprung Phil Kessel leading a 3-on-2 rush. No one picked up Guentzel coming down the wing, and when Kevin Klein missed clearing the rebound on the initial shot, Guentzel was there for the rebound.

Penguins 2, Rangers 1

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Rick Nash forced Ian Cole into a turnover along the boards. He collected the loose puck, and attempted to feed Derek Stepan in the slot. Justin Schultz blocked the pass, but while on the ice gave it right back to Nash, who beat Fleury.

Rangers 2, Penguins 2

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Fleury appeared to misplay the initial shot by Michael Grabner, and was forced into a turnover by Ryan McDonagh. McDonagh got the pass through the crease to Grabner, whose backhander beat Fleury.

Rangers 3, Penguins 2

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J.T. Miller got credit for this flukey goal, which bounced off his arm after Evgeni Malkin deflected the Kevin Hayes pass and into the net. But it was Miller that started this with a good defensive play shorthanded, followed by a good pass to Hayes to get the rush started.

Rangers 4, Penguins 2

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McDonagh had himself a game last night. He intercepted the clear and held the puck while Hayes got to the slot. A few nifty moves later, his pass intended for Hayes went off his skate and in the back of the net. I can watch McDonagh on this goal all day and never get tired of it.

Rangers 5, Penguins 2

Derek Stepan empty netter.

Corsi

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This does represent what we all say in this game. The Rangers were sloppy to start, especially as the first period came to a close. But then the Rangers really turned it on in the second, which seems to be the norm for them. But perhaps the best part here is that the Rangers really poured it on in the third as well. After an entire season of shelling with a lead, the Rangers pressed and got two more goals. That’s good to see.

Scoring Chances

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It wasn’t just shots the Rangers were giving up early, they were high quality chances. Despite the bad goal early, Raanta really kept them in it while they figured it out. Then again, they got much better chances and pressed more in the second and third. Makes you wonder what could have happened if they didn’t open slow.

This is a statement win for the Rangers, who really needed to beat a Cup contending team to silence some of the loud haters after a few tough games. There’s another big test at home to close off this home-and-home with the Pens, but that does gives us two days to enjoy this solid win.

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