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 "We thought we were in pretty good position after two periods to
be tied in this building, played a real solid third period and got
it done in overtime," said Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
Brassard's game-winning goal was initially waived off by the
official because it appeared that his wrist shot from the slot hit
the crossbar. A wild scrum ensued and left winger Benoit Pouliot
deposited the puck into the open net to score what appeared to be
the game-winner. But replay showed that Brassard's shot actually
entered the net and did not hit the crossbar.
"I didn't hear a whistle," said Pouliot. "You heard the post. The
way the puck came out. I had no clue. I was right beside the net,
and I still had no clue. No whistles. You just have to keep going.
It was a mad scramble."
The Penguins and Rangers are meeting in the Stanley Cup playoffs for
the fifth time in history, with the Penguins prevailing in all four
of the previous matchups. The Rangers took a step toward reversing
that trend with the Game 1 win.
On the other side of the ice, the Penguins have now lost five
consecutive playoff overtime games, including three this postseason.
Despite the fact that this was the Rangers' third game in four
nights, they were the team that jumped ahead 2-0 in the first
period. The Rangers outshot the Penguins 13-8 in the process.
"For whatever reason, we didn't come out hard enough," said Penguins
captain Sidney Crosby, who has yet to score a goal this postseason.
Just 5:04 into the contest, Pouliot skated into the high slot and
unleashed a hard, rising wrist shot toward the Pittsburgh net that
rose over the right shoulder of Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre
Fleury and just underneath the crossbar. It was Pouliot's third goal
of the playoffs and gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead on just their third
shot of the game.
The Rangers took a 2-0 lead with just under three minutes left in
the first frame when left winger Carl Hagelin beat Penguins
defenseman Olli Maatta to a loose puck on the forecheck and then
threw a pass to wide-open center Brad Richards in the slot. Richards
had enough time to take the puck on his backhand, turn back to his
forehand, deke around Fleury and deposit the puck into the net
before a Penguins player even laid a hand on him.
The Penguins came out a more inspired team in the second period,
scoring two goals of their own and outshooting New York 15-4.
"In the second we kind of let them play and just sat back and
watched," said Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi. Pittsburgh cut the
Rangers' lead in half at 7:15 of the frame when right winger Lee
Stempniak picked up a drop pass from forward Beau Bennett and
displayed some slick stick handling down the slot before backhanding
a shot past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to his blocker side.
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The Penguins, who lead the NHL with three come-from-behind victories
already in the playoffs, pulled even with the Rangers at 2-2 when
left winger James Neal fired a laser of a wrist shot from the high
slot that hit off of the chest of Lundqvist and popped high into the
air. Center Evgeni Malkin was parked in front of the net and
attempted to bat the puck in with a high stick. However, replay
would show that the puck was not touched by Malkin, but hit the
backside of Lundqvist and trickled in at 13:28 of the second.
"We found a way to battle back in the game and give ourselves a
chance to win," said Neal. "I thought we did a good job in the
second and third of getting to the net, putting pucks there and
being physical and doing things in the offensive zone."
The Penguins nearly completed their comeback at 17:33 of the third
when center Joe Vitale rang a wrist shot off the left post. Shortly
thereafter, the Penguins were awarded a power play, but failed to
convert for a fourth and final time in the game. The Rangers' power
play was also ineffective, going 0-for-4 and has now gone 0 for
their last 25.
Lundqvist made 34 saves to earn the win, while Fleury made 24 saves
in defeat. Game 2 is slated for Sunday night at 7:30 in Pittsburgh.
NOTES: The Penguins held home-ice advantage in four of the five
playoffs series against the Rangers. ... The Penguins have nine
players on their roster with at least one Stanley Cup ring; the
Rangers have two. ... Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury (87) and Rangers
G Henrik Lunqvist (75) are first and second, respectively, in
playoff games played among goaltenders remaining in the playoffs.
... Scratches for the Penguins were D Deryk Engelland, D Brooks
Orpik (undisclosed), C Brian Gibbons (undisclosed), C Jayson Megna,
LW Taylor Pyatt, RW Chris Conner and G Tomas Vokoun. Scratches for
the Rangers were D Raphael Diaz, D Justin Falk, C Chris Kreider
(hand), C J.T. Miller and RW Jesper Fast. ... The official
attendance was 18,622.
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reserved.]
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