The Rangers hosted the Penguins Thursday night in the second of three matchups this week. It was an important game for the Penguins, who needed at least a point to avoid ceding further ground in the playoff chase.
First Period:
For the second game in a row, Mika Zibanejad scored the opening goal. In the defensive zone, Vladimir Tarasenko knocked the puck away from Sidney Crosby, and it was picked up by Artemniy Panarin. Panarin banked the puck off the boards to a wide-open Zibanejad, who had all the time he needed to undress Tristan Jarry for his 200th career goal:
Zibanejad nets his 35th of the season, and credit to Tarasenko with the play back in his own zone that earns him a secondary helper pic.