The Rangers entered their opening playoff series with numerous advantages over the eighth-seeded Penguins, a team that barely made the playoffs, playing without multiple, key, injured players.
In Game 1 Thursday night, the Rangers tilted the scales in their favor even more, drawing four first-period penalties — resulting in one power-play goal — to alter the momentum in their 2-1 win over the Penguins at Madison Square Garden.
Playing the team that committed the second-highest number of minor penalties in the league this season, the Rangers could see many more man-advantage opportunities in the series.
“I thought we did a good job getting into the zone,” defenseman Keith Yandle said.