Panarin has 5 points, powers Rangers past Penguins

PITTSBURGH -- Artemi Panarin had two goals and three assists for the New York Rangers in a 7-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

It was Panarin’s fifth five-point game in the NHL and first since Feb. 11, 2023.

“I don't think about it, or I don't try,” Panarin said on whether this is his best NHL season. “Maybe I'll think about it after the season, about those things. Never in the season."

Chris Kreider and K'Andre Miller each had a goal and two assists, Adam Fox had a goal and an assist, and Vincent Trocheck had two assists for the Rangers (44-19-4), who have won four of five. Jonathan Quick made 34 saves.

Bryan Rust and Lars Eller each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (29-28-9), who have lost five of six (1-4-1) and eight of 10 (2-7-1). Tristan Jarry allowed six goals on 23 shots before being pulled early in the third period. Alex Nedeljkovic made four saves in relief.

"We've just got to work every night,” said Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, who had an assist but extended his goal drought to 11 games. “I think we just have to approach every game for what it is. Today, I thought we worked hard, generated some good chances. Unfortunately, gave up a few too many.”

John Ludvig put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 2:36 of the first period with a one-timer from the left point through traffic. It was his third goal of the season and second in as many games.

Kaapo Kakko tied it 1-1 at 3:07, finishing a cross-crease pass from Jimmy Vesey below the right circle, and Fox put New York in front 2-1 at 3:33 with a backhand from the slot while falling to his knees.

Rust tied it 2-2 at 12:27, scoring his 20th of the season on a wrist shot from below the left circle off a pass from Crosby above the crease.

Panarin responded for the Rangers to make it 3-2 at 15:32, tapping in a saucer pass from Trocheck at the right post on a 2-on-1 rush.

"I just liked the responses in the first period,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “We gave up an early goal, scored two. Gave one up. So, I just liked the response of coming back. Pittsburgh played hard tonight. They were tough all night. They didn't stop working.

“I think our guys just kept battling as well. A couple things we can clean up, but it was a pretty good win against a team, as I mentioned before, their urgency was high."

Eller tied it 3-3 at 10:10 of the second period with a one-timer below the right circle on a power play.

Panarin put the Rangers back in front 4-3 with a power-play goal at 16:27, converting on a loose puck just outside the crease.

Mika Zibanejad scored another power-play goal to extend the lead to 5-3 at 17:32, this time on a one-timer from the slot.

"I think it's a little bit of everything,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “Tonight, for me, the game flipped in that two-goal swing on their power play. I thought a lot of the game we were pretty good 5-on-5.”

Miller made it 6-3 at 4:41 of the third period on a wrist shot from the left point, which resulted in Jarry being pulled.

"This is stuff we've been doing all year, right?” Quick said. “This is nothing new that we did today that we haven't been doing. These guys, they battle hard."

Valtteri Puustinen cut it to 6-4 at 7:23 with a one-timer from the left circle on a 2-on-1 rush.

Kreider scored an empty-net goal with 18 seconds remaining for the 7-4 final.

“Usually, when you’re fighting for points like this down the stretch, whether you win or lose, you have to turn the page quick and get going,” Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said.

NOTES: Panarin has 93 points (38 goals, 55 assists) in 67 games, becoming the first player in Rangers history to get at least 90 points in four seasons and to do so in three straight. His secondary assist on Miller’s goal was his 500th in the NHL. ... Kreider played in his 800th NHL game. His 298 goals are the second-most by a Rangers player through their first 800 games with the franchise, behind Jean Ratelle (306). ... The Penguins have scored 10 goals in their past two games after scoring two in their previous four.