October 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin (31) scores against Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) in the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images After three consecutive non-playoff seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins began to establish themselves as an improved team with a shutout win over the New York Rangers in their season opener on October 7.
Nearly four months later, the Penguins are heading toward a return to the postseason as they try to beat the Rangers for the third time Saturday afternoon in New York as the Metropolitan Division rivals close their season series.
Pittsburgh has won two of the first three meetings after going 4-7-0 against the Rangers over the past three seasons. The Penguins are 3-0 in New York to a 9-4-2 start and posted a 6-5 win at home on Jan. 31, the final game of their second six-game winning streak this season.
Pittsburgh is 9-1-2 in its last 12 contests since scoring twice in a three-game losing streak from Jan. 10-13. Seven of those wins have been by at least three goals, including Thursday’s 4-1 home win over the New Jersey Devils.
The Penguins scored at least four goals for the ninth time in a row, and did so after placing Sidney Crosby on injured reserve after their star captain suffered an injury while playing for Canada at the Olympics.
“He’s a big part of the team, but we have guys who can step up,” Pittsburgh goalie Arturs Silovs said. “If we can do that by the time he gets back, we’ll be in a good position.”
Evgeni Malkin had two assists on goals by Tommy Novak and Egor Chinakov, and the 39-year-old had three goals and 11 assists during Pittsburgh’s surge. Chinakhov has also scored nine goals since making his Penguins debut on January 1.
“These are really exciting times,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “Every night, every point counts. Every point counts so much, so there’s no days off. Just move on to the next game, quickly, because everyone comes quickly. That’s what makes it fun.”
The Rangers are having no fun entering their final three games before the March 6 trade deadline. New York tied its worst of the season with its fifth straight loss, losing 3-2 at home in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
New York took a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Sam Carrick and Alexis Lafrenière, but finished with 25 shots, gave up five power plays, and allowed the tying goal 39 seconds into the third.
The Rangers’ loss continued for two months, following the trade of Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings before the All-Star break and the return of defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin from extended absences.
“I thought they were OK,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said of Shesterkin and Fox’s first appearances since Jan. 5. “I think they can take another step forward. I mean, Foxy’s missed a lot of hockey, so it’s going to take some time for him to adjust to the speed of the game, the timing of the game, things of that nature. He’s missed so much time. I expect Foxy to be better with each game he plays.” “He missed so much time.”
The Rangers are 2-11-2 in their last 15 games and Thursday marked the ninth time they have held two or fewer goals in that span. New York has also gone 1-6-1 at home during this skid, which has seen it fall to last place in the Eastern Conference and has scored two or fewer goals for the 32nd time this season.
–Field level media
