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 Nash and center Derek Stepan each scored two goals as the Rangers
beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Sunday for their 15th win in
their last 18 games.
Nash scored on the game's first shot, beating goaltender Marc-Andre
Fleury on a breakaway with just 26 seconds elapsed and New York
(26-13-4) improved to 13-3-1 in Metropolitan Division play.
"It's huge," Nash said of getting off to a quick start. "It kind of
gives you the confidence to keep that energy at a high level.
Especially on the road, you always want a quick start."
Nash logged his fifth multi-goal game of the season. The left winger
raised his season goal total to 28 after going pointless in his
previous three games following a stretch of nine goals in 14 games.
Stepan had multiple goals for the second time this season. The
center scored the Rangers' last two goals.
Centers Derrick Brassard added a goal and an assist for New York,
which won the season series from Pittsburgh 3-0-1. Center Chris
Kreider and right winger Martin St. Louis had two assists each.
The Rangers have gone 6-0-1 in their last seven games against the
Penguins, dating to last year's Eastern Conference semifinals when
the Rangers won three games in a row to rally from
three-games-to-one deficit and win the series.
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been in net for each of
those seven games, and he made 32 saves Sunday for his 13th win in
his last 15 starts. He is 11-3-1 in road games this season.
"I think it's fun when you play against the best players and they
have so many good players from the other side," Lundqvist said. "You
have the respect for them but you definitely want to beat them. It's
a good challenge every time to come here and play them. A lot of
times it's a fast game. Because we respect their skill it looks like
we try to play a smart game and make good decisions with the puck."
Pittsburgh (26-12-2) got goals from center Sidney Crosby and left
winger David Perron, with defenseman Kris Letang assisting on both.
Crosby notched his third goal in his last two games. Perron has
scored five goals in six games since being acquired from Edmonton
after notching just five goals in 38 games with the Oilers to begin
the season.
Fleury was removed in the second period, giving up four goals on 17
shots two days after allowing a season-high five goals in a road
loss to the New York Islanders. He is 3-5-2 in his last 11 starts.
The Penguins fell to 2-3-1 in their last six games.
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"You're going to have adversity at certain times of the year,"
Penguins coach Mike Johnston said. "It's how you respond to the
adversity that matters."
After Nash beat Fleury early, he scored again at 2:39 of the second
period to put the Rangers ahead 3-1. Nash has four goals in four
games against the Penguins this season after failing to score in
seven games against them in last year's playoffs.
Stepan's first goal, on the power play at 5:34 of the second period,
pushed New York's lead to 4-1 and chased Fleury. Stepan potted his
eighth goal of the season against backup goalie Thomas Greiss with
13:45 remaining to make it 5-2.
Brassard's 12th goal came at 6:08 of the second period and gave the
Rangers a 2-0 lead.
"My only concern is we had another poor start again," Penguins
defenseman Rod Scuderi said. "We were slow off the bat the first
five, six minutes. It doesn't help when you've got to fight from
behind the eight ball."
Crosby scored his 15th goal at 15:08 of the first period on the
power play and Perron scored at 4:16 of the third period.
"From start to finish, I really like the way we controlled the puck
and competed," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "We needed to
have a real strong game against one of the best teams in the league
and that's what we did."
NOTES: Rangers D Marc Staal officially agreed to terms on a
six-year, $34.2-million contract extension prior to the game. ...
New York LW Tanner Glass (upper-body injury) was out but is likely
to return for Tuesday night's game against Ottawa. ... Rangers D Dan
Girardi was credited with six hits. ... Pittsburgh scored five
power-play goals in its last six games.
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