Sullivan gets win with Rangers in return against Penguins

PITTSBURGH -- Adam Fox had two goals and an assist, and the New York Rangers won 6-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in coach Mike Sullivan’s return to PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Sullivan, hired by the Rangers on May 2, was coach of the Penguins the previous 10 seasons before both sides agreed to part ways on April 28.

“It’s emotional, you know? It means a lot,” said Sullivan, who received a video tribute in the first period. “I’m grateful for everything that we accomplished here during my time. I’m grateful for my opportunity to coach here in Pittsburgh for 10 years. I’m so grateful to the group of players over those years that performed the way they did, that allowed us to have the success that we had.

“And when you watch a tribute like that, which I was very appreciative of for the Penguins, they didn’t have to do that, it brings back a flood of emotions.”

Sam Carrick, Adam Edstrom and Noah Laba each had two assists for New York (2-1-0), which has won two straight since losing its season opener 3-0 to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Igor Shesterkin made 18 saves.

Ben Kindel scored his first NHL goal, and Arturs Silovs made 24 saves for the Penguins (2-1-0), who had won their first two games.

“We’re in Game 3,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “This will be something, early this season, especially. But go through the year, we’re going to constantly look to improve all areas of our game. I don’t think this is anything to be panicking on.”

Mika Zibanejad put the Rangers ahead with a short-handed goal at 7:40 of the first period, scoring his first of the season with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle set up by Carrick on a 2-on-1.

“Kind of a choppy first period,” said Zibanejad, who returned to first-line center after playing the first two games at right wing with J.T. Miller at center. “Just getting used to playing with [Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere again] and seeing how we can mesh.”

Kindel, the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, tied it 1-1 at 3:04 of the second period, on a wrist shot glove side before New York scored five straight.

“It was definitely nice to get the first one, get it out of the way,” Kindel said “So, yeah, just looking to move forward into our next games.”

Fox gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 6:06 with a wrist shot above the left circle past a screen from Carrick.

Will Cuylle made it 3-1 on a power play at 9:25, a shot from Conor Sheary going in off his skate.

Fox extended the lead to 4-1 on another power play at 16:38, shooting from the point off the handle of Silovs’ stick and in off the left post for his third goal in the past two games.

“I think, sometimes, it’s just the law of averages, I think,” Fox said. “Last year, the puck luck to start wasn’t great. This year, the same shots find a way to go in.”

Matt Rempe pushed it to 5-1 at 5:40 of the third period when a shot from Edstrom went in off him in the crease.

Taylor Raddysh scored off a backhand pass from Laba, making it 6-1 at 14:12.

“I mean, sometimes you get scored on,” Silovs said. “It’s just the nature of the game. There’s always adjustments to do. And, yeah, I just think we're going to be better next game.”

NOTES: Sullivan won the Stanley Cup in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh. He was 409-255-89 with the most wins and games coached (753) in Penguins history. ... Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck did not play with an upper-body injury sustained in a 4-0 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. He is week to week. ... Pittsburgh forward Bryan Rust made his season debut after missing the first two games with a lower-body injury. He had three shots on goal in 18:44 of ice time. ... Kindel (18 years, 175 days) is the youngest Penguins player to score since Jordan Staal (18 years, 172 days on March 1, 2007). ... Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy left at 3:38 of the second period after falling headfirst into the boards. He is being evaluated for an upper-body injury, Sullivan said. ... New York was 2-for-4 on the power play and held Pittsburgh to three shots on its four chances (0-for-4). The Rangers are 9-for-9 on the penalty kill through three games.