Eastern Conference First Round Game 4 (Pittsburgh leads series 2-1)
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins Lines and Defencive Combinations
New York Rangers Lines and Defencive Combinations
Game Recap
In the first period, New York gets on the board early at 2:06 when Alexis Lafreniere scores his first goal of the postseason. After the Lafreniere goal, lots of back and fourth action happens between both squads to get things back on an even playing surface. The Rangers head off to the box when Patrik Nemeth heads off for a high sticking call on Pittsburgh’s Evan Rodrigues. Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby looks to even the game 40 seconds into the power play and after the goal is reviewed by the Situation Room in Toronto, it is determined that the goal is good and the Penguins tie the game. At 15:38, Sidney Crosby heads to the box on a Tripping penalty to give the Rangers their first power play opportunity of the night. Chris Krieder then heads off after the puck deflects off of Pittsburgh’s Brock McGinn into his chest. At the end of the first period, the Rangers and Penguins are tied 1-1.
In the second period, Chris Kreider returns after the puck deflection to the chest. Jeff Carter looked to give the Pens the lead but the puck hit the side of the post so play continues with the game tied. Mike Matheson scores his first career NHL playoff goal from near center ice after a puck deflection to give the Penguins the 2-1 lead and then Jake Guentzel scores a one-timer at 3:38 to give Pittsburgh the 3-1 lead. The Penguins then extend the lead to 4-1 when Mark Friedman scores his first goal of the postseason at 11:22. New York finally responds when Adam Fox is credited with a goal after a puck deflected off the stick of Mike Matheson into the Penguins net to make it a 4-2 Penguins lead at 14:04. The Penguins then re-take the three goal lead after a Danton Heinen goal, his second goal of the postseason, off of a Kris Letang assist at 18:53. With 32 seconds left in the period, Jeff Carter scores when the puck slips right through the legs of Igor Shesterkin as the Penguins head to the locker room and at the end of the second period, Pittsburgh takes the commanding 6-2 lead over New York.
In the third period, the Rangers make a goalie change with Alexandar Georgiev in net. The Penguins head to their second power play of the night after New York’s Chris Krieder heads off for a hi-sticking penalty on Pittsburgh’s John Marino at 2:53. Lots of back and forth possessions with close shots for goals on both sides but the score remains 6-2 with 8:00 left in the contest. At 12:22, Evgeni Malkin scores his second goal to make it a five goal lead for the Penguins with the puck going just under the crossbar over Georgiev’s shoulder. Then at 13:20, the Penguins head to the power play once more after New York’s Jonny Brodzinski is sent off for a Cross-check to the back of Pittsburgh’s Teddy Blueger. The contest comes to an end as the Penguins dominate the Rangers 7-2 and look to close out the series Wednesday night in New York.
Scoring and Penalty Summary
1st
NYR Goal: Alexis Lafreniere (1) – Assisted by Braden Schneider (2) and Kappo Kaako (1) – 02:06
NYR Penalty: Patrik Nemeth for Hi-sticking – 2 min minor – 10:37
PIT PP Goal: Sidnet Crosby (2) – Assisted by Jake Guentzel (1) and Kris Letang (2) – 11:17
PIT Penalty: Sidney Crosby for Tripping – 2 min minor – 15:37
2nd
PIT Goal: Mike Matheson (1) – Assisted by Sidney Crosby (6) – 03:14
PIT Goal: Jake Guentzel (5) – Assisted Bryan Rust (4) and Sidney Crosby (7) – 03:38
PIT Goal: Mark Friedman (1) – Assisted by Teddy Blueger (1) and Brian Boyle (2) – 11:22
NYR Goal: Adam Fox (2) – Assisted by Artemi Panarin (3) and Mika Zibanejad (4) – 14:04
PIT Goal: Danton Heinen (2) – Assisted by Kris Letang (3) – 18:53
PIT Goal: Jeff Carter (3) – Assisted by Jason Zucker (1) – 19:28
3rd
NYR Penalty: Chris Kreider for Hi-sticking – 2 min minor – 02:53
PIT Goal: Evgeni Malkin (2) – Assisted by Kasperi Kapanen (2) – 12:22
NYR Penalty: Jonny Brodzinski for Cross-checking – 2 min minor – 13:20
Period by Period Statistical Summary
1st
| New York – 1 | Pittsburgh – 1 | |
| Faceoffs | 4 | 13 |
| Power Play | 0/1 | 1/1 |
| Shots | 8 | 14 |
| Hits | 16 | 17 |
2nd
| New York – 2 | Pittsburgh – 6 | |
| Faceoffs | 11 | 22 |
| Power Play | 0/1 | 1/1 |
| Shots | 20 | 30 |
| Hits | 34 | 44 |
3rd
| New York – 2 | Pittsburgh – 7 | |
| Faceoffs | 19 | 29 |
| Power Play | 0/1 | 1/3 |
| Shots | 24 | 41 |
| Hits | 49 | 54 |
Next Contest: Wednesday, May 11th, 2022 at New York Rangers (Pittsburgh leads series 3-1)
TXHT may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through Cool Hockey ads/links in this article.
One thought on “Penguins Dominate Rangers 7-2”