In the 4 hours, 38 minutes the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers spent creating drama in a triple-overtime thriller Tuesday, the Metropolitan Division rivals combined for 151 shots on goal, 76 hits and 52 blocked shots.
Eventually Evgeni Malkin scored 5:58 into the third overtime and the experienced Penguins won an instant classic in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The anticipation is thick for Game 2 on Thursday at New York, although both teams could use an expedited process this time.
Pittsburgh’s experienced quartet of Malkin, captain Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust were instrumental in securing the 4-3 victory in Game 1. The foursome combined for nine points (four goals, five assists), 30 shots on goal and each played 34 minutes.
“We know we can win every game if we play right, we play smart, we play hard,” Malkin said. “I think we deserved to win (Tuesday).”
Malkin played 35:42 and scored the winning goal on a deflection, giving Pittsburgh its first triple-overtime win since Petr Sykora scored 9:57 into the third overtime to beat Detroit in Game 5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final. Malkin also had a hand in helping the Penguins get to overtime by setting up Rust’s tying goal on a 5-on-3.
Malkin’s dramatic game-winning tally also occurred after Crosby made two slick passes for Guentzel, who scored in the second period after Pittsburgh faced a two-goal deficit.
“It’s a playoff game against one of our rivals,” Rust said. “We knew it was going to be a good, fast, hard-hitting game, and that’s what we got.”
While there may not be questions about Pittsburgh’s star quartet, there are some unknowns surrounding goaltending plans. Head coach Mike Sullivan said he plans to take a game-to-game approach due to injuries.
Louis Dominique was tapped to start Thursday.
Casey DeSmith started in place of Tristan Jarry (foot) and made 48 saves before leaving with 10:42 remaining in the second overtime. Domingue relieved DeSmith and stopped 17 shots in the final 16:33.
“He’s confident. He has a little swagger to him. I think that serves him well,” Sullivan said. “It’s such an important aspect of being a goalie. He believes in his game. I think it’s contagious with our group.”
DeSmith is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Regular season starter Jarry is not available, and the Penguins recalled Alex D’Orio from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the backup for Game 2.
Penguins forward Rickard Rakell (upper-body injury) was also ruled out for Game 2, Sullivan said Thursday morning. Rakell after he did not return to Game 1 following a hit to the chest from Ryan Lindgren late in the first period.
Regardless of the goalie situation, the Rangers still have to protect leads significantly better after not playing a postseason home game in nearly five years.
The Rangers started by getting goals from Adam Fox and Andrew Copp in the first 23:08 but also gave up a 25-shot second period, while taking just eight themselves in the 20-minute stretch.
“It was one of those games, three overtime periods, it’s tough to lose like that, but you get back on the horse and get ready for the next game,” New York coach Gerard Gallant said.
The Rangers are also hoping to generate chances that do not get overturned by Pittsburgh challenges.
New York was 3:10 away from securing the win in regulation but Filip Chytil’s tally was overturned due to officials determining Kaapo Kakko interfered with DeSmith.
New York is also hoping it does not take another herculean effort by Igor Shesterkin after he made 79 saves to easily surpass the previous team record of 56 stops by Gump Worsley in 1962. Shesterkin finished with the second most in NHL playoff history, six behind Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets in on Aug. 11, 2020, against Tampa Bay.
The Rangers’ defense could have a different look in Game 2, depending on the condition of Lindgren. He played 28:43 but also was slow to get off the ice multiple times and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
–Field Level Media
