Crosby helps Penguins end Rangers' 7-game winning streak

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and the Pittsburgh Penguins ended the New York Rangers' seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.

Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust scored, and Tristan Jarry made 26 saves for the Penguins (19-9-4), who have won eight of nine.
"We have a lot of respect for their team. They're a good hockey team," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "We've had a lot of close games against them over the last couple of years. Every time we play them, they seem to go down to one goal. It's a big play here or there, a key play. That's just the nature of the game."

Chris Kreider scored twice, and Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves for the Rangers (18-11-5), who had outscored opponents 32-14 in seven straight wins.
"I thought we played a great game," New York coach Gerard Gallant said. "We worked hard. We competed hard. We came in here and played a real good team over there. The game was a toss-up."
The Rangers played the Penguins for the first time since overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate Pittsburgh in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
"Every year is so different," Kreider said. "I think that it's two teams competing for a playoff spot in the same division. So it's always going to be competitive. It's always going to be not a lot of time and space out there. A good test for us tonight."
After the Penguins fell behind 1-0 in the first period, Malkin tied it 1-1 on a power play at 14:24 of the second period by taking a pass from Crosby for a wrist shot from atop the left circle. Malkin has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) on a nine-game point streak.

Rust gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead on another power play, deflecting a point shot from Pierre-Olivier Joseph at 19:47.
The Penguins are 13-for-35 (37.14 percent) and have scored at least one power-play goal in nine consecutive games, their longest streak since scoring in 12 straight from Feb. 3-26, 2013.
"We weren't as good as we would've liked to be through the first half of the game," Rust said. "We weren't on our toes. We weren't fighting that hard. For some odd reason, we weren't in a game that we should've been. I think getting those power-play goals really gave us a shot in the arm."
Crosby extended it to 3-1 at 8:40 of the third period, going forehand to backhand and through the five-hole off a pass from Jake Guentzel for his 18th goal.
Kreider took a pass from Vincent Trocheck on a 2-on-1 for a wrist shot, cutting it to 3-2 at 10:03.
"Had a lot of fight in the third," Trocheck said. "I liked the way we played for the most part, but there were a few shifts during the second, and I just feel like that goal in the third, that we need to tighten up."

Kreider put the Rangers ahead 1-0 on their first shot of the game 22 seconds into the first period, having a pass intended for Trocheck go in off the stick of Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson. He had gone without a point in five of his previous six games after having 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in his first 27 games this season.
New York hit the post three times -- Trocheck at 6:15 and Jimmy Vesey at 12:29 of the first, and Filip Chytil at 3:26 of the second -- before Malkin's tying goal.
"You have to have different games for every scenario," said Jarry, who is 11-0-2 since Nov. 12. "Sometimes you're not going to see a lot of shots. Just being prepared for as many shots as you get, I think that's key. Making sure you're at your best for everyone."
NOTES: Penguins forward Ryan Poehling left late in the third period with an upper-body injury. He continues to be evaluated, Sullivan said. … Pittsburgh forward Jason Zucker had an assist in his return from sustaining a lower-body injury against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 12. He was originally considered week to week. … Chytil played after sustaining an upper-body injury in the second period of a 7-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. … Penguins forward Josh Archibald did not play with a lower-body injury. He was considered a game-time decision after missing practice Monday.