Sidney Crosby Bryan Rust score twice as Pittsburgh Penguins beat New York Rangers

NEW YORK (AP) — Sidney Crosby had two objectives and an help and Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves because the Pittsburgh Penguins beat New York 5-2 on Monday evening, snapping the Rangers’ five-game successful streak.

Bryan Rust additionally scored twice and Emil Bemstrom added a aim for Pittsburgh, which ended a four-game shedding streak in New York and improved to 14-9-3 in its final 26 video games towards Rangers. The Penguins misplaced each earlier video games this season at residence towards the first-place Rangers and have been making their lone look at Madison Sq. Backyard.

“We all know the circumstances. No one goes to really feel sorry for us,” Crosby mentioned. ”You have to discover methods, no matter it’s a must to do to get wins. That was a terrific staff win.”

Kaapo Kakko and Jack Roslovic scored objectives for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin completed with 16 saves.

The Rangers trailed 3-0 earlier than Kakko ruined Nedeljkovic’s shutout bid at 10:42 of the third together with his twelfth aim of the season. Artemi Panarin bought his team-leading sixty fourth help and 108th level on the play.

Roslovic made it 3-2 with 3:07 left within the third together with his eighth aim of the season and second with the Rangers.

Nevertheless, Rust and Crosby scored empty-net objectives over the ultimate 2:11 to cement the Penguins’ win as Nedeljkovic improved to 13-6-6 in his first season with the Penguins.

“We knew it was going to be a troublesome check. That is a extremely good hockey staff over there,” Nedeljkovic mentioned. ”They’d rather a lot to play for however so can we. We’re combating for factors and the blokes did a terrific job.”

Pittsburgh remains to be dealing with lacking the playoffs for a second straight season for the primary time throughout Crosby’s profession, which started in 2005-06.

The Rangers have been coming off an 8-5 win at Arizona on Saturday, their fiftieth victory of the season. New York had received 11 of their earlier 13 residence contests, together with final Tuesday’s wild 6-5 time beyond regulation win over Philadelphia.

“Total, not our greatest sport,” mentioned ahead Mika Zibanejad, who assisted on Roslovic’s aim.

Rust opened the scoring simply 18 seconds into the competition, beating Shesterkin.

Crosby made it 2-0 at 10:39 and Bemstrom elevated the result in 3-0 with a breakaway aim at 9:51 of the third, his seventh.

“You possibly can’t spot a staff two objectives and anticipate to win on this league,” Rangers ahead Jimmy Vesey mentioned. ”Happening two that early within the sport modifications the entire dynamic. You are chasing the sport. A couple of too many errors tonight.”

Rust’s second aim of the sport was his twenty sixth of the season at 17:21 whereas Crosby’s second of the competition with 45 seconds left was his thirty seventh of the season and the 587th of his profession.

With 82 factors this season, the 36-year-old Crosby is assured of averaging a degree per sport for the nineteenth time in his 19 NHL seasons. Wayne Gretzky additionally had 19 such campaigns.

”Any time you could be in that firm, it is fairly cool,” Crosby added in reference to matching Gretzky on such a major milestone.

Crosby’s first-period help was the 997th of his profession and his eightieth level this season, marking the thirteenth time he has reached that milestone, tying him with Marcel Dionne, Mark Messier and Dale Hawerchuk. Gretzky has probably the most such seasons with 17.

“It’s outstanding for him to carry out at an elite stage for so long as he has,″ Penguins coach Mike Sullivan mentioned of Crosby. ”His physique of labor speaks for itself. All of those milestones that he’s reaching is proof that he’s one of many best gamers of all time.”

Nedeljkovic, who’s in his first season as a Penguin, agreed with how spectacular Crosby is as a teammate.

“There’s not a lot to say that hasn’t already been mentioned. It is unbelievable to look at,” he mentioned. ”He is a lot greater than a aim scorer. Doing the little issues is what makes him a pacesetter.”

The Rangers nonetheless have wins in seven of their final 9 video games and factors in 24 of their final 30 with a 22-6-2 file.

“Any time you lose, it is robust,” Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren mentioned. “We had an opportunity to tie it and it simply did not occur.”

UP NEXT

Penguins: At New Jersey on Tuesday evening.

Rangers: Host New Jersey on Wednesday evening.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL