3 Keys: Rangers at Penguins, Game 6 of Eastern First Round

(2M) Rangers at (3M) Penguins
7 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, MSG
Pittsburgh leads best-of-7 series 3-2

The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to eliminate the New York Rangers and advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs without the help of center Sidney Crosby.
Crosby will not play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round because of an upper-body injury he sustained in the second period of Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, when the Rangers won 5-3 to avoid elimination.
Crosby leads all players with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the series.
"This isn't anything that our team isn't accustomed to," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "We played a fair amount of the season in these circumstances, in these situations. … We believe we have what it takes. We have enough. We have what it takes to win."
RELATED: [Complete Rangers vs. Penguins series coverage]
Pittsburgh was 5-4-4 in 13 games without Crosby during the regular season, including 5-3-4 without him and center Evgeni Malkin in 12 of the first 13 games of the season. They also lost 3-0 to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 7, when Malkin played but Crosby did not.
Malkin will move into Crosby's spot as the center on the top line between Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. Evan Rodrigues will replace Malkin on the second line between Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen. He also will replace Crosby on the Penguins' top power-play unit.
"Especially in the playoffs it kind of brings that extra juice out of you and gets you fired up even more," Rodrigues said of getting an elevated role. "Going to go and try to make my mark on this game, but at the same time just do what I've been doing the first five games."
The Rangers are hoping for a better fate than they had in Pittsburgh in Games 3 and 4, when they were outscored 14-6 in losing both. Goalie Igor Shesterkin was pulled from both games, allowing a total of 10 goals on 45 shots in three periods.
"It's a new game again, it's a new opportunity and we're looking forward to this," Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said.
Here are 3 keys for Game 6:

1. Malkin mania

With Crosby out, the Penguins will lean more on Malkin, who has not been nearly as dangerous as Pittsburgh's captain in the series but historically has stepped up in his absence.
Malkin has scored 199 points (77 goals, 122 assists) in 148 regular-season games without Crosby. The Penguins are 85-45-18. They're also 2-0 in the playoffs when Malkin has played and Crosby hasn't. Malkin has three assists in those games.
Malkin has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in the series, including the triple-overtime goal to win Game 1. He is averaging 20:58 of ice time and has 14 shots on goal.
"We expect him to be the player that he's been for us in my time here," Sullivan said. "He's a terrific hockey player. He has the ability to be a dominant player. I think his track record speaks for itself."

2. Top line's time to shine

The Rangers top line of Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Frank Vatrano has had the assignment all series of skating against Crosby and his linemates, Guentzel and Rust. It has been a struggle for them.
But with Crosby out, Zibanejad, Kreider and Vatrano might be able to make more of an impact offensively. They have been limited to seven points (three goals, four assists) at even strength while Crosby, Guentzel and Rust have combined for 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists).
"The focus is really on us," Zibanejad said. "At times it's been a little bit too much focus on other things, other players, the opposing team, rather than us. I try to keep reminding myself to just focus on what I have to do, play my game and try to get them to worry about what we do."

3. Shesterkin's redemption

Shesterkin has an opportunity to quiet the crowd that was chanting his name throughout the two games played here, including while he was on the bench for the third period of Game 4 after he allowed six goals on 30 shots through two periods.
The goalie should come into Game 6 feeling good after making 29 saves in Game 5, including stopping all 15 shots he faced in the third period to help the Rangers maintain the lead they got when Filip Chytil scored a power-play goal at 2:53 of the third.

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Frank Vatrano
Artemi Panarin -- Ryan Strome -- Andrew Copp
Alexis Lafreniere
-- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte -- Kevin Rooney -- Ryan Reaves
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Justin Braun -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched:Libor Hajek, Greg McKegg, Julien Gauthier, Jonny Brodzinski, Patrik Nemeth
Injured:Barclay Goodrow (lower body)

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen -- Evan Rodrigues -- Kasperi Kapanen
Jason Zucker -- Jeff Carter -- Brock McGinn
Brian Boyle -- Teddy Blueger -- Drew O'Connor
Mike Matheson -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- John Marino
Mark Friedman -- Chad Ruhwedel
Louis Domingue
Alex D'Orio
Scratched: Nathan Beaulieu, Radim Zohorna
Injured:Sidney Crosby (upper body), Tristan Jarry (lower body), Rickard Rakell (undisclosed), Casey DeSmith (core muscle surgery), Brian Dumoulin (lower body)

Status report

Motte is a game-time decision after being cleared to play, Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said Friday. The forward has been out since sustaining an upper-body injury against the Penguins on April 7. … Jarry was a full participant in the Penguins morning skate but will not play; the goalie has been sidelined since April 14. … Rakell will be a game-time decision; the forward, who last played in Game 1, did not take line rushes during the morning skate.