Rapid Reaction: Rangers 2, Penguins 1 (OT)

PITTSBURGH -- The New York Rangers won the first overtime game of this closely fought first-round playoff series when Kevin Hayes popped home a loose puck 3 minutes, 14 seconds into the first OT period to give the Rangers a 2-1 win and a commanding 3-1 series lead.

How it happened: The Pittsburgh Penguins came out with a much more aggressive effort than in Game 3, when they didn’t get their first shot on goal until almost 15 minutes had passed. They forechecked aggressively, and were rewarded with an early goal by Patric Hornqvist on a deflection in front of Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist.

But the Rangers answered in the second period. After being limited to just two first-period shots, the Rangers put 12 pucks on Marc-Andre Fleury and had several other glorious chances go wide. They finally came up with the tying goal late in the second when Derick Brassard banged home a loose puck at the side of the net, his third of the series.

In the third period it was a case of punch-counterpunch, as first the Rangers enjoyed good chances and then the Penguins did, right through to overtime. In regulation, the teams were practically mirror images: 23 shots for the Penguins, 21 for the Rangers, and each teaming going 0-for-3 on the power play. In the end all that separated them was a scramble in front of Fleury. Both Carl Hagelin andMartin St. Louis made good plays to keep the puck alive near the Penguins crease before the goal was scored.

What it means: The Rangers, the league’s best regular-season team, can wrap up a fourth straight trip to the conference semifinals with a win at home Friday. Historically, this is a team that hasn’t exactly developed a killer instinct in the playoffs in spite of their successes, but this was a character win for the NHL’s best road team during the regular season, and they’ll get a chance to more fully develop that killer instinct in Game 5.

As for the Penguins, you have to wonder if they’ve now played their last home game of the season and, if so, what kind of offseason changes might be afoot.

Player of the game: Hayes had a great chance in the third period to put the Rangers ahead, a shot which sailed high and wide. But he made up for it in OT, getting his first-ever playoff point.

Stat of the game: The most important stat of overtime, outside of Hayes’ goal of course, might have been the blocked shot recorded by Rangers defensemanDan Girardi moments before the overtime winner was scored. Chris Kunitzroared down the left side but could not get his hard shot on net.

What’s next: Game 5 is Friday night in New York at Madison Square Garden, at 7 p.m. ET.

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