Jarry bounces back, Penguins defeat Rangers for first win in three games

NEW YORK -- Tristan Jarry stopped Chris Kreider on a penalty shot and made 22 saves for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 5-2 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

The Penguins lost 8-4 here Tuesday, when Jarry allowed four goals on 11 shots in the first period before being replaced by Casey DeSmith.
"I thought Tristan was solid all night," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "There were a couple of goalie handles there where there was some miscommunication, but other than that he made some big saves for us. The penalty shot was a big moment in the game."
Kris Letang, Radim Zohorna, Jason Zucker and Evan Rodrigues each scored a goal and had an assist for the Penguins (25-13-2), who allowed 15 goals in their previous two games, including a 7-5 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Adam Fox had an assist to extend his point streak to 12 games, and Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves for the Rangers (18-16-5). Their four-game point streak and Artemi Panarin's streak of four straight multipoint games ended.
Pittsburgh is third in the MassMutual East Division. The top four teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"I thought we were much better," Sullivan said. "I thought not only the quantity but the quality of the chances were not as good as we gave up the other night. I think that's reflective in the score.
"Nobody was happy with the last couple of games, specifically the result, but the process had a lot to do with it. Our leadership did a real good job and we brought a sense of urgency to the game that is necessary to win in this League."
The Rangers dropped to sixth place in the East Division, seven points behind the fourth-place Boston Bruins.
"Any time a game is run and gun a little bit and you put up eight, a team is definitely going to tighten up," Fox said. "That's what they did. You could tell they were playing from the middle out in the [defensive] zone and limiting our chances. You knew they were going to come out fast after last game. They did a good job limiting us."
Zohorna gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 6:26 of the first period, scoring with a backhand-forehand deke after driving to the net with a move around Libor Hajek.
"I did this in Czech and I did it in the [American Hockey League]," Zohorna said. "I was in full speed and I wanted to try and skate and go to the net. I was a little bit lucky and I scored."
Zohorna, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward, signed with the Penguins as a free agent on April 29, 2020. The 24-year-old has scored four points (two goals, two assists) in his first four NHL games.
"I would love to have those long legs, long stride," Letang said. "Once he gets going it's pretty tough to stop, and it's pretty fluid for a guy who is his size. We saw it in the game. … It's pretty impressive and he's still young. He can put on even more weight and more power."

The Rangers tied it 1-1 on Colin Blackwell's power-play goal at 2:02 of the second period.
The Penguins took a 2-1 lead at 3:23 on Letang's goal off what was intended to be a pass to Bryan Rust from the top of the right circle that deflected off Kreider's stick.
Rodrigues scored off a pass from Zohorna 10 seconds into a power play at 11:28 to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead. Zohorna won the face-off to start the power play.
Jarry preserved the two-goal lead with a glove save on Kreider's penalty shot at 17:59.
"When you get that timely save I think it boosts the confidence in the group in front of him," Sullivan said.

Zucker scored with a backhand through Shesterkin's legs at 10:29 of the third period to make it 4-1.
Kevin Rooney scored off a pass from Fox at 13:48 of the third period to make it 4-2. Mark Jankowski scored into the empty net at 18:29 for the 5-2 final.
"They were obviously better this game," Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said. "They made it hard for us. We were maybe a little bit too stubborn with the puck in our decisions, forcing a little bit too much. I think just eager to get something going, and they feed off of that. They're a good team and we were a little bit too stubborn."
NOTES: Penguins center Sidney Crosby didn't play the final 4:42 off the second period because of an equipment issue. He returned for the third period. … Penguins center Frederick Gaudreau won 11 of 12 face-offs. … Fox has scored 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) during his streak, which is the longest by a Rangers defenseman since Brian Leetch scored a point in 14 straight games from Oct. 30-Dec. 1, 1996. … Blackwell has scored five goals in his past six games.