SUMMARY
Alexis Lafrenière scored his first goal of the season on a nice sequence, in addition to obtaining an assist, and the New York Rangers made short work of the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning by a score of 6- 0, Wednesday.
Lafrenière, who scored a goal in a second opening game of the season in a row, served a nice fake to the Penguins defense before going to deceive the vigilance of goaltender Tristan Jarry. The Quebecer’s goal then gave the visitors a two-goal lead.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin signed a shutout to start the season by blocking all 28 shots aimed at him.
Shesterkin, who reportedly turned down a lucrative US$11 million per season contract extension, became the first Rangers goalie since Gump Worsley in 1956 to record a shutout in their season opener. It was the 16th career shutout for the 28-year-old Russian, who had four in the last campaign.
The Penguins and their stars would obviously have liked a better start to the season, particularly in front of their fans. For one, Sidney Crosby was shut out in the first game of his 20th season in Pittsburgh.
Chris Kreider, who scored twice, also had a goal in a second straight opener when he pounced on a rebound to give the Rangers a three-goal lead. He scored his second of the game during a numerical disadvantage when the game was already out of the Penguins’ reach by taking the puck from defender Kristopher Letang before slipping the puck between Jarry’s pads to make it 5 -0.
Lafrenière and Kreider are the first Rangers players to score in back-to-back openers since Martin Straka in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Kreider, however, pushed the note a little higher since it is the first time in the history of the Rangers that a player from this team found the back of the net twice in the opening of a campaign. The only other active NHL players to do the same thing are Travis Konecny, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid.
Filip Chytil gave New York a four-goal lead midway through the second period when he scored after being well fed by Will Cuylle.
Sam Carrick and Vincent Trocheck scored the other goals for the Rangers.
Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba both finished the game with two assists for the Rangers, who defeated the Penguins for the fifth time in their last six games.
Jarry faced 41 shots in front of the Penguins cage.
Related News :