The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers have been battling for almost two weeks in a physical seven-game series in the first round of the NHL playoffs. The Penguins led the series 3-1 and were looking to close out the Rangers in Game 5, but an injury to Sidney Crosby appeared to derail that.
The Rangers would go on to win Game 5 and Game 6 in comeback fashion. That led us to Sunday for Game 7 in Madison Square Garden. The Penguins received great news that Crosby was back in the lineup, as well as goalie Tristan Jarry.
But it's been the play of Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel that has carried them. On Sunday, Guentzel made Pittsburgh history, scoring his eighth goal of the series.
Jake Guentzel joins Mario Lemieux (2x) and Sidney Crosby as the only skaters in Penguins history to score 8 goals in a single playoff series. pic.twitter.com/ucfY2nGLvu
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 16, 2022
Midway through the second period, the Penguins left winger beat Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. With his goal, he tied Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux as the only Penguins player to have ever done that. Lemieux did it twice, of course.
The Rangers came right back to tie the game at two. Pittsburgh took the lead 3-2 on a shorthanded goal from Evan Rodrigues. But with under five minutes remaining in the third period, the Rangers tied it up again. Mika Zibanejad beat Penguins goal tender Tristan Jarry to send the game to overtime.
Now comes the most exciting and most nerve-wracking this in all of sports. An NHL playoff Game 7 in overtime. Someone's season is guaranteed to end on the next goal. Will it be Pittsburgh or New York moving on to the next round.
The winner will travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes. Carolina already won their own Game 7, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2 Saturday.
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