Blueshirt Breakdown: NYR 5 vs. PIT 2 - Game 2

ALL EVEN - The Rangers evened the series at 1-1, heading to Pittsburgh, with tonight's win. It marked the Blueshirts' first playoff win since May 4, 2017, a 4-1 victory over Ottawa in Game 4 of the Second Round. Including the regular season, New York is 20-8-3 following a loss of any kind. Teams that lose a game with three or more overtimes improved to 22-18 in their next game. Note: this number doesn't include series-ending games. All-time, New York is 20-17 (.541) overall when tied 1-1 in a best-of-seven series and 10-7 (.588) when tied 1-1 after starting at home.
FAN FAVORITES - The Rangers improved to 138-105-1 all-time in playoff games at home.
GOALS GALORE - New York scored five goals in a playoff win for the first time since May 26, 2015 at Tampa Bay (7 in Game 6 of ECF). The Blueshirts have scored three or more goals in their last five games against the Penguins and have combined for 39 goals in their last 12 contests against them, including the regular season.

• Chris Kreider scored his second goal of these playoffs and 54th of the season (including playoffs). The only Rangers players with more in a season are Adam Graves (62 in 1993-94) and Vic Hadfield (57 in 1971-72). Kreider's goal stood up as the game-winning goal, tying Mark Messier for the most game-winning goals in Rangers playoff history (7). With his goal, Kreider tied Jean Ratelle for the 14th most points in Rangers playoff history (42). Tonight was Kreider's 82nd career playoff game, tied with Brian Leetch for the eighth most playoff games played by a Ranger.
  - Andrew Copp opened the scoring for the Rangers with his second goal of the playoffs, becoming the third Ranger in the past 30 years to score a goal in each of his first two playoff games with the franchise, joining Michael Grabner (2017) and Alex Kovalev (1994). Copp has recorded 20 points (10G-10A) in 18 combined (Reg. season/playoff) games with the Blueshirts.
  - Igor Shesterkin earned his first career playoff win, making 39 saves on 41 shots. Shesterkin has combined for 118 saves through the first two games, tied for the second most combined saves in consecutive games by a single goaltender in NHL history. He became the first goaltender since 1955-56 (since shots on goal began being tracked) to record 100 saves through his team's first two games of a postseason, besting the previous mark of 97 shared by Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003 w/ ANA) and Roberto Luongo (2007 w/ VAN).
  - Frank Vatrano recorded three points (1G-2A), his first career multi-point playoff game. Vatrano has three goals and three assists for six points in 16 career playoff games.
  - Artemi Panarin tallied his third career three-point playoff game and first as a member of the Rangers. He became the first New York skater to do so since J.T. Miller (3A) in Game 2 of the 2016 First Round. Panarin has 99 points this season, combined with the regular season.
  - Ryan Strome scored his first playoff goal as a Ranger and first playoff goal since April 14, 2016 at Florida with the Islanders. Strome has two points (1G-1A) through the first two playoff games.
  - K'Andre Miller tallied two points, becoming the first Blueshirts defenseman since Ryan McDonagh on April 29, 2017 at Ottawa to record a multi-point game. Miller was a plus-2 and skated in 22:48 minutes of time on ice.
  - Braden Schneidernotched his first career playoff point with an assist.
  - Adam Foxnotched a point (A) for a second-straight playoff game and was a plus-1.
  -Justin Braun, playing in his 101st career playoff game -- which is the most on New York ­-- recorded an assist. He has three goals and 13 assists for 16 points over those 101 games.