NHL: Shorthand a success in Penguins win over Rangers
{{date|March 1, 2007}}

{{MatchScore|Pittsburgh Penguins|4|3|New York Rangers}}

[[Image:Crosby.jpg|right|thumb|250px|{{w|Sidney Crosby}} received the #1 Star of the Game.]]

Today, the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] took on the {{w|New York Rangers}} in {{w|Madison Square Garden}}, [[New York City|New York]].

{{w|Jaromir Jagr}} struck first for New York, with {{w|Michael Nylander}} following suit in the final 2:30 to give the Rangers a comfortable 2-0 lead at the end of the second period. Staal's shorthanded goal came 76 seconds into the final period, with Staal beating Rangers goaltender {{w|Henrik Lundqvist}} with a soft forehand shot. Penguins winger {{w|Colby Armstrong}} continued the shorthanded show, scoring less than 2:00 later with a bad angle shot, which would ricochet off of Lundqvist's pad. 

When all momentum had seemingly crossed to the Penguins, Blair Betts fired a goal to restore New York's lead at 3-2. {{w|Sergei Gonchar}} tied it up again late in the 3rd, with a blistering shot on a Penguins power play to level the score at 3-3. In the shootout, not a single score occurred until NHL scoring leader {{w|Sidney Crosby}} took the ice. With the shootout tied 0-0, and a point on the line, Crosby beat Lundqvist, lifting Pittsburgh to victory. The game was not a total loss for the Rangers, though, as they picked up a precious point by forcing overtime.

Penguins rookie {{w|Jordan Staal}} wasn't supposed to make the team, and once he did make it, he wasn't expected to contribute more than assisting on the penalty kill and filling in on the fourth line. Not much could be expected of an 18 year old rookie not named Sidney Crosby. That was the premise before the season started, at least. Now, heading into the stretch run toward the NHL Playoffs, Staal leads not just rookies, but the entire [[NHL|National Hockey League]] in shorthanded goals, after notching his 6th of the season, his 26th total goal.

== Three Stars of the Game ==
* #1 - {{w|Sidney Crosby}}, C, PIT - Shootout goal
* #2 - {{w|Marcel Hossa}}, LW, NYR - 2 Assists
* #3 - {{w|Jordan Staal}}, C, PIT - SH Goal

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap;_ylt=AnDSZIS6njACzuADx7vCmgFQ2bYF?gid=2007030113
|title=Pittsburgh 4, NY Rangers 3, SO
|author=Ira Podell ([[Associated Press|AP]])
|pub=Yahoo! Sports
|date=March 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.newyorkrangers.com/gametime/recap.asp?id=2721
|title=Crosby forces Rangers to settle for one point
|author=
|pub=New York Rangers
|date=March 1, 2007}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.nhl.com Official Website of the National Hockey League]
*[http://www.pittsburghpenguins.com Official Site of the Pittsburgh Penguins]
*[http://www.newyorkrangers.com New York Rangers Official Site]

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:National Hockey League]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Penguins]]
[[Category:Ice hockey]]
received the #1 Star of the Game.

Today, the Pittsburgh Penguins took on the Madison Square Garden, New York.

Michael Nylander following suit in the final 2:30 to give the Rangers a comfortable 2-0 lead at the end of the second period. Staal's shorthanded goal came 76 seconds into the final period, with Staal beating Rangers goaltender Colby Armstrong continued the shorthanded show, scoring less than 2:00 later with a bad angle shot, which would ricochet off of Lundqvist's pad. 

When all momentum had seemingly crossed to the Penguins, Blair Betts fired a goal to restore New York's lead at 3-2. Sidney Crosby took the ice. With the shootout tied 0-0, and a point on the line, Crosby beat Lundqvist, lifting Pittsburgh to victory. The game was not a total loss for the Rangers, though, as they picked up a precious point by forcing overtime.

Penguins rookie  wasn't supposed to make the team, and once he did make it, he wasn't expected to contribute more than assisting on the penalty kill and filling in on the fourth line. Not much could be expected of an 18 year old rookie not named Sidney Crosby. That was the premise before the season started, at least. Now, heading into the stretch run toward the NHL Playoffs, Staal leads not just rookies, but the entire National Hockey League in shorthanded goals, after notching his 6th of the season, his 26th total goal.
United States Sports National Hockey League North America Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Penguins Ice hockey