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 The good news for the Rangers is defenseman Kevin Klein has
emerged as an unexpected scoring machine this season.
Klein's goal with 1:15 remaining in overtime -- his sixth of the
season and second in overtime -- allowed the Rangers to escape with
a 4-3 victory Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Left winger Evgeni Malkin and right winger Steve Downie erased a 3-1
deficit with lightning-quick goals in the final five minutes of the
third period that answered a goal by Rangers right winger Kevin
Hayes with 7:02 left.
But it was Klein, who had never scored more than four goals in any
of his previous 10 seasons, playing the role of hero once again.
"He's been unbelievable," said Rick Nash, who scored his 18th of the
season in the second period. "He's been great defensively and he's
jumping up into the play and creating offense."
The Rangers allowed a two-goal to slip away Saturday during a 3-2
road loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Klein made sure history wouldn't
repeat itself Monday.
 "I thought the guys responded really well," Klein said. "We didn't
get down on ourselves. We kept going. To get that one in overtime
was nice."
The Penguins were satisfied with the outcome, earning a point
despite missing a slew of key players because of injury.
"I think we were buzzing all (third) period," Downie said. "We came
out and I think we controlled the pace of the third and we got the
bounces we deserved. We played well and I thought it was a good
comeback."
Penguins left winger Nick Spaling scored his fourth goal of the
season at 12:35 of the first period with a laser beam of a shot over
the catching glove of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Penguins center
Sidney Crosby drove the middle and dished the puck to Spaling, who
unleashed a slap shot that hit the top corner of the net for the 1-0
Penguins advantage.
It was during the second period when the Penguins (18-6-3) started a
trend of defensive mistakes that turned the game in favor of the
Rangers.
Penguins defenseman Paul Martin turned over the puck in the neutral
zone, which allowed an odd-man rush for the Rangers. Defenseman
Brian Dumoulin seemed to get caught between taking away the pass and
defending the shooter, and it resulted in right winger Martin St.
Louis slipping a pass to cutting left winger J.T. Miller for the
tap-in goal that tied the score.
Nash made it 2-1 less than five minutes later, again capitalizing on
a misplay by Dumoulin for the mini-breakway goal midway through the
period.
Dumoulin's final mistake occurred on his final shift of the game, as
he committed a turnover at the attacking blue line that directly led
to Hayes' goal.
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"Certainly with the (defense) pairs, there's a little bit of a
learning curve there when you're trying to play with a new partner
and you're trying to read off him under heavy forechecking
pressure," Penguins coach Mike Johnston said of his makeshift blue
line as the result of injuries.
The Rangers (12-10-4) avoided a third straight loss as Lundqvist (32
saves) was able to slightly outplay Fleury (25 saves).
"We needed it for a couple reasons," Lundqvist said. "Obviously for
confidence but also we need points to get back in the race here. It
was frustrating when they did tie it up there."
"Overall, we played a good game. Right now, you are a little upset
the way we allowed them to come back in the game that late, but
right now we aren't fighting against them in the standings."
Outshot 13-4 by the Penguins in the third period, the Rangers went
into a shell for an extended period of time and nearly paid for it
with a loss. Instead, they found a way to win overtime and keep
themselves near a playoff spot at this early juncture of the season.
"Ultimately, it's an ugly two points," Rangers defenseman Ryan
McDonagh said, "but those are sometimes the ones that are the most
important down the stretch."
NOTES: The Penguins have been decimated by injuries over the past
three weeks and played without LW Pascal Dupuis (blood clots), LW
Chris Kunitz (foot), RW Patric Hornqvist (undisclosed), LW Beau
Bennett (lower body), D Kris Letang (groin) and D Olli Maatta
(undisclosed). Coach Mike Johnston said Maatta's ailment is
unrelated to the cancerous tumor he had removed from his thyroid
gland earlier this season. ... D Robert Bortuzzo returned from a
two-game suspension and replaced Maatta in the lineup. ... Rangers
LW Chris Kreider (neck) did not play after a collision during
practice Sunday. LW Tanner Glass returned after missing four games
battling mumps. ... Rangers D John Moore, a healthy scratch Saturday
against the Detroit Red Wings, replaced D Matt Hunwick.
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