The Pittsburgh Penguins not only failed to eliminate the New York Rangers with a 5-3 loss Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, but they also lost the services of captain Sidney Crosby.
American defenseman Jacob Trouba checked Crosby late in the second period, and appeared to hit him in the face with his elbow on impact. “Sid The Kid” never returned to the game and his departure coincided with the rout of his family.
It was Czech pivot Filip Chytil who played the heroes in the third period with a wrist shot that gave Louis Domingue no chance.
Ryan Lindgren nailed the Penguins’ coffin by sliding the puck into an empty cage at the very end of the game.
After an uneventful first engagement, during which only Jake Guentzel hit the mark, the two teams opened the floodgates in the middle period.
After the first success of the spring tournament of Quebecer Kristopher Letang, his 23rd career, the “Blueshirts” gushed by scoring three goals in just under three minutes.
Adam Fox, Alexis Lafrenière and Trouba each in turn beat Domingue, shaking the walls of Madison Square Garden.
Guentzel momentarily halted Rangers’ momentum just 13 seconds later with his second of the game. Since joining the league, only Brayden Point (37) has scored more goals than him (33) in the playoffs.
After a pair of lackluster performances, Igor Shesterkin was solid between the New York posts with 29 saves. At the other end of the ice, Domingue was helpless against four of the 33 opposing assaults.
The Penguins will have a second chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs in front of their fans at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.
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