New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, right, reacts while Pittsburgh Penguins' Pascal Dupuis, second left, celebrates his goal with teammates Chris Kunitz, left, and Evgeni Malkin during the second period of their NHL hockey game in New York, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. New York Rangers' Dan Girardi (5) skates by. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
January 20, 2013 - 6:51 PM
NEW YORK, N.Y. - James Neal scored twice, Evgeni Malkin assisted on three Pittsburgh goals, and the Penguins chased reigning Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist from the net in the second period of a 6-3 victory over the Rangers in New York's home opener on Sunday night.
Neal, Tyler Kennedy and Matt Niskanen all scored in the first period, and Malkin set up Pascal Dupuis in the second to push Pittsburgh's lead to 4-1 and drive Lundqvist to the bench. The Penguins, building off a 3-1 win at Philadelphia on Saturday, are 2-0 in the lockout-shortened season and haven't even played a home game.
Neal added his second of the game and third of the season off another assist by Malkin to make it 5-1 at 5:06 of the third. Kris Letang added an empty-net goal with 1:52 left to close the scoring.
Veteran backup Tomas Vokoun started for Pittsburgh over Marc-Andre Fleury and was solid in making 31 saves.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013