Penguins Defeat Rangers in Gary Puck Saturday Showdown

PITTSBURGH — If you like hockey games that feel like roller-coasters designed by someone who hates your blood pressure, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins served up just that Saturday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena. In a back-and-forth affair that saw youthful exuberance collide with playoff contention urgency, the surging Penguins nipped the struggling Rangers 6-5 in a barnburner that could’ve used a referee’s whistle as much as a seatbelt.

Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari were the stars of the show for Pittsburgh, each netting two goals as part of the Penguins’ sixth straight victory, a run that has seen Pittsburgh outscore opponents 31-15 during this stretch. Mantha opened the scoring early, and Acciari wasn’t to be outdone, giving the home team a cushion they’d need — at least until New York’s late surge. 

Erik Karlsson, ever the stat sheet whisperer, parked another milestone in the record books by becoming the 12th defenseman in NHL history to reach 700 career assists with a helper on Rickard Rakell’s 10th goal of the season. Not shabby for a Tuesday morning hangover. 

Pittsburgh’s third-period splurge — two goals just 20 seconds apart — opened what looked like a safe margin, but the Rangers, who’ve weathered a brutal injury bug this season and sit on the wrong side of the Metro standings, didn’t go quietly. Alexis Lafrenière scored twice and Vincent Trocheck chipped in with a goal and two assists in a furious comeback attempt. Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle also filled the scoresheet for New York. 

Statistically, the Penguins controlled more than just the scoreboard. Pittsburgh put 34 shots on goal compared to the Rangers’ 20, though New York’s shooting percentage landed at an impressive 25% — testament to taking advantage of the chances they did get. On the other end, goaltending numbers were far from clean: Penguins’ Stuart Skinner stopped just 15 of 20, while Jonathan Quick made 28 saves on 33 shots in a performance that might leave fans scratching their heads. 

Despite the final, fun-to-watch scoreline, underlying trends remain concerning for the visitors: the Rangers have now dropped three straight, six of their last seven, and 11 of 13 games, a skid that’s as ugly on the analytics chart as it feels on the standings. Their power play, historically a thorn in opponents’ sides, managed just one conversion tonight, and defensive breakdowns that saw a two-goal cushion evaporate will give coach Mike Sullivan — ironically Pittsburgh’s former bench boss — plenty to chew on. 

For Pittsburgh, the wins keep piling up and playoff positioning looks healthier by the day. But with a league that’s seen parity become the norm, the Penguins’ next tasks are consistency and tightening up details — especially when generous leads are on the line.

In all, a 6-5 decision with big numbers, milestones and near-meltdowns from both benches made for a late January spectacle — one part high drama, two parts “why did we score that goal now?” and a solid sip of hockey chaos that’s tough to bottle but fun to watch.

Want the box score muscle-memory? Mantha (2), Acciari (2), Rakell (1) paced Pittsburgh’s offense; Lafrenière’s brace led the Rangers’ unlikely rally. Shots, scoring chances, narrative twists — this one had everything but a quiet moment.