The Penguins were down one of their top defensemen, their top two goaltenders, and two top-six forwards, and it was a bit too much to overcome in Game Two of their playoff series with the New York Rangers.
Paul Steigerwald has the story.
REACTIONS:
Coach Mike Sullivan says the Penguins need to find scoring from more than just the Sidney Crosby line.
Sullivan says neither the power play nor the penalty kill were good enough in the first two games of the series.
The coach says the Penguins’ penalty killing unit is not getting the job done.
Crosby says the game was competitive, but the Penguins need to be better at the start of the game.
Crosby says there were a lot of positives for the team in New York.
Crosby says the Penguins have dealt with injuries all season long, so they’re used to being shorthanded.
Forward Danton Heinen says the Penguins had their chances.
Heinen thinks the Penguins have the right formula for beating the Rangers.
Defenseman Brian Dumoulin was scratched from the lineup before the game with an undisclosed injury. Sullivan said only that he is out “right now”. Mark Friedman replaced Dumoulin, whose streak of 81 straight playoff games was broken.
Jason Zucker skated in the warmups but did not dress for the game. Although Sullivan would not say so, Zucker could be ready to play tomorrow night in Game Three in Pittsburgh.
