New York Rangers Upend Pittsburgh Penguins To Take Game 1 In Overtime

May 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) scores the game wining goal past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the overtime period in game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins came out flat against a team playing their third game in 4 nights, and by the time they started playing against the New York Rangers, it was too late. Although they tied it up, the Penguins could only force overtime and it was Derick Brassard who chipped one over the shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury to draw first blood in the series.

Benoit Pouliot opened the scoring just past the 5 minute mark when he picked up a loose puck in his own end and carried the puck through the neutral zone with speed, backing the Penguins defensemen up. He cut to the middle and fired a wrist shot top shelf past Fleury, a goal that you normally would like your goalie to make. The Rangers doubled the lead before the period was out, with Carl Hagelin forcing a turnover behind the net, and finding Brad Richards all alone in front. A quick backhand-forehand move got Fleury out of position and Richards slid it home.

Pittsburgh came out in the second with a much better effort, but the wall that is Henrik Lundqvist was a problem. The Penguins did get even on a nice backhand by Lee Stempniak and then a fortunate bounce on a shot by James Neal that Lundqvist stopped but it bounced over his shoulder and into the net.

Lundqvist was the difference in the third as the Penguins took the play to the New York Rangers, outshooting them 12-8 (and 27-12 over the final 40 minutes of regulation), but couldn’t find the go-ahead goal.

The OT period saw a scramble where Pouliot stole the puck in the Penguins corner and found Brassard all alone in front. His wrist shot found the bar inside the net in the corner and came right back out and was initially waved off, but the puck ended up back on his stick and he found Pouliot in the slot and he put it home for extra measure. However, for you poolies out there Brassard did get credit for the goal after review.