Rangers fight back to pip Penguins in shootout
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Rangers outlasted the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout after digging themselves out of a two-goal hole in regulation Wednesday.
The Rangers, who have won the last seven meetings between the teams at Madison Square Garden, took their third shootout victory in the last four contests to consolidate their position at the top of the Atlantic Division.
New York goalie Dany Sabourin stopped one of two shots during the shootout session before Swede Fredrik Sjostrom ended the game with a wrister to give the Rangers their third score in as many attempts.
"This is what hockey is all about," Rangers center Scott Gomez told reporters after finishing with two assists.
"It's great hockey, and the Garden is rocking. This is why you play the game."
New York defeated Pittsburgh in much the same manner on October 25, when the Rangers fell behind and again rallied to win 3-2 by way of a shootout.
This time, Pittsburgh took early control with a goal from defenseman Mark Eaton in the first and center Jordan Staal in the second.
Nikolai Zherdev scored on a tip-in at 10:56 in the second period to start New York's comeback and Petr Prucha's first goal of the season tied the game at 2-2.
Prucha delivered at 14:03 in the third period on assists from Gomez and Wade Redden.
"I am really happy and really relieved," Prucha said. "Now I just have to keep it going. Tomorrow is a new game and I just hope I can do what I did today."
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby failed to record a goal despite coming off his second career hat-trick against the New Jersey Devils Saturday.
His team mate Evgeni Malkin, who came into the game with an league best 39 points, was held pointless for just the fourth time in 24 games.
New York moved to 18-8-2, while division rivals Pittsburgh drop to 14-6-4.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
