Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang shine in comeback as Pittsburgh Penguins dominate New York Rangers 5-2
Sidney Crosby was back on primetime ice for the first time since early December along with defenseman, Kris Letang. Their presence was enough to boost the Pittsburgh morale to the point of Penguins dominating New York Rangers, 5-2, on Thursday night, March
15, 2012, at the sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York.
Pittsburgh not only routed the top Eastern Conference team but also won their 10th straight game, making them one of the highest ranked clubs entering the playoffs. Having superstar captain, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang back on the line-up, Penguins
may just be one of the best teams to make the Stanley Cup stretch this time around.
"I don't like to say stuff like that," said Marc-Andre Fleury when asked whether he thought Pittsburgh was the best right now. "I think we're playing pretty solid hockey these days. It's a long season -- nothing's over. We have to keep going and trying to
get points to catch the Rangers. Everybody feels pretty confident no matter what the score is.”
Matt Cooke got the first of the night for Pittsburgh 2:54 into the opening period for his 13th of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
He was followed by Carl Hagelin who took opportunity on a loose puck after a scramble in front of the Penguins net, firing it in to level the game.
Evgeni Malkin added his 39th of the year while Cooke grabbed his second goal of the night on the two on three fight with New York.
Marian Gaborik potted New York Rangers’ second of the night, which would be their last as Sidney Crosby setup Chris Kunitz in the third and Letang secured the matchup with an assist to Pascal Dupuis at 7:35.
"It was pretty much what I expected as far as ice time, the way I felt, everything," Crosby said. "It felt pretty good. It felt like I was able to focus on what I was able to do.”
Pittsburgh does not look like they will be slowing down anytime soon as the Penguins have the next against New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
New York, having had their two-game winning streak snapped, will be looking to rebound on the same day at home against Colorado Avalanche.
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