Malkin and his Penguins spoil the Garden party, 4-1

2011-12 Game No. 45; Home Game No. 21	Rangers' Record: 29-12-4
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
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GAME RECAP Associated Press Richard Park scored the go-ahead goal 2:23 into the third period, Evgeni Malkin padded the lead with two, and workhorse Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves to give the suddenly hot Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-1 victory over the Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Park finished a crisp, three-way passing play with Matt Cooke and Deryk Engelland that worked right-to-left across the Rangers zone, and beat Henrik Lundqvist with a shot inside the left post. Park has four goals this season, but two in three games since an 11-game absence because of a broken foot. Malkin scored with 12:50 left to make it 3-1, putting a backhander under the crossbar, and added an empty-netter with 1:40 left. Malkin has 24 goals this season, including seven in four games. Fleury played in his 19th straight game for the Penguins, who have won four in a row following a six-game skid. Chris Kunitz gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the first period. Carl Hagelin scored the Blueshirts' lone goal, and Lundqvist made 32 saves for the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers. New York tied it 1-1 at 10:06 of the second period on Hagelin's eighth goal. Hagelin received a perfect backhanded pass from Marian Gaborik, who was on the right wing boards. Hagelin took the puck as he glided into the left circle and shoved a shot that squeezed slowly between Fleury's pads. The Penguins got good news with the return of defenseman Kris Letang. Letang, who had missed 21 games. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Blueshirts' penalty kill was 2-for-2 (2:37 total icetime) vs. the Pens, and has now held opponents scoreless in 11 of the last 12 games (25-26, 96.2 percent over the span). The Rangers are 50-for 55 (90.9 percent) on the penalty kill with five shorthanded goals in the last 21 contests. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Hagelin 2. Girardi 3. Gaborik

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THE BIGGER PICTURE The pattern of late has been to play a great game in response to a subpar one. The timing for this particular effect couldn't be better as the Rangers head into their long-awaited showdown with Boston for what will now have to be a response game.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- McDonagh (25:21) Shots -- Gaborik (6) Hits --Boyle (6) Blocks -- Girardi (3) Takeaways -- Gaborik (2) Faceoffs -- Stepan (21)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. PITTSBURGH
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Carl Hagelin	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky	Brad Richards	Brandon Prust
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Ryan Callahan
Mike Rupp	Artem Anisimov	John Mitchell

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Marc Staal	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Del Zotto, Rupp, Anisimov, Prust.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Carl Hagelin	Artem Anisimov	Marian Gaborik

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Derek Stepan
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Ryan Callahan	Derek Stepan
Artem Anisimov	Brad Richards

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Michael Del Zotto