BRYAN RUST

PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang started their 17th season together with a bang, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins race by the Arizona Coyotes 6-2 on Thursday night. Crosby began his 18th season by scoring his 518th career goal 1:22 into the first period. It marked the first time in Crosby's career he's scored Pittsburgh's first goal of the season. Maybe, but the Coyotes are likely facing another difficult year that includes playing 20 of their first 24 games on the road. Ritchie's second goal 4:46 into the third brought the Coyotes back within two.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang started their 17th season together with a bang as the Pittsburgh Penguins raced by the Arizona Coyotes 6-2.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are at a crossroads following a fourth straight quick playoff exit.

Rangers Penguins Hockey New York Rangers' Chris Kreider (20) celebrates after scoring against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 13, 2022. Kreider's second of the game and fourth of the playoffs sent the series back to New York. For most of the early going in Game 6, it seemed the Penguins would find a way to advance without him. The Penguins throttled Shesterkin in Games 3 and 4, ending his night early in relatively easy wins. Zibanejad then pulled the Rangers even 1:16 later with another laser, this one from just above the right circle.

Chris Kreider’s long slap shot bounced over Louis Domingue and into the net with 1:28 left and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 to push their thrilling first-round series to a deciding Game 7.

Rangers Penguins Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Jake Guentzel (59) and right winger Bryan Rust (17) congratulate center Sidney Crosby on a goal against the New York Rangers in the first period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 9, 2022. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) (Matt Freed)Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins were stymied by Igor Shesterkin during the regular season. After scoring just four goals against Shesterkin in four regular-season games, the Penguins have torched him for 10 goals in three periods over the last two games. He left after giving up four goals in the first period of Game 3 and then again after allowing six in two periods of Game 4. “I'm just happy we won the game and we can go back home in front of our home fans and compete again with the series tied,” Verhaege said.

Danton Heinen’s first playoff goal in three years just past the midway point of the third period helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers.

Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and two assists and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the best-of-seven first-round series.

Evgeni Malkin scored on a deflection 5:58 into the third overtime, giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Avalanche Penguins Hockey Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon, center, celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic)PITTSBURGH — (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche clinched a playoff spot with the help of two goals from Nathan MacKinnon in a 6-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. Mikko Rantanen continued a six-game point streak with an assist in his 400th NHL game (he has 400 career points). Colorado opened a 3-1 lead with a pair of second-period goals scored 2:07 apart. Jeff Carter assisted on Guentzel's goal, becoming the 20th active player with 800 NHL points.

Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and the Colorado Avalanche clinched a playoff spot with a 6-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguin.

PITTSBURGH — (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins spent the first four months of the season shadowboxing each other for the top spot in perhaps the NHL's most competitive division. Evan Rodrigues scored his first goal since Jan. 6 to get Pittsburgh within one with 1:12 remaining, but the Hurricanes held on. Bryan Rust scored his eighth goal in his past eight games and Sidney Crosby added the 501st goal of his career. “It’s a hard game,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. Rust poked home a rebound off Kris Letang's shot 14:43 into the period gave Pittsburgh some life.

Jesper Fast scored 9 seconds into the third period to break a tie, Sebastian Aho followed with his 22nd goal of the season and the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Sunday to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski scored 75 seconds apart late in the third period, and the Dallas Stars stopped Pittsburgh’s 10-game win streak with a 3-2 victory over the Penguins.

The Penguins won the second game of a back-to-back and haven’t lost since Dec. 1 against Edmonton. The Penguins won five games during the streak on the road and can at least think about the team record of 17 straight set over March-April 1993. The Penguins also won 15 straight games in March 2013 and have winning streaks of 12, 11 and 10 games, all since 1999. The Penguins played a Flyers team ravaged with injuries and even more players in the COVID-19 protocol. I just try to focus on the game tonight.”The Flyers could have used more focus — and healthy bodies.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won their 10th straight game with a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Blues Penguins Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins' Evan Rodrigues (9) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)PITTSBURGH — (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have been the NHL’s hottest team for the better part of a month. Crosby and Evan Rodrigues scored 12 seconds apart in the third period, and the Penguins rallied for a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. Crosby scored his fifth, Rodrigues his 14th and McGinn his ninth, as Pittsburgh scored three in the third to erase a 3-2 deficit. Crosby has four goals and 19 points in his last 12 games played.

Sidney Crosby and Evan Rodrigues scored 12 seconds apart in the third period, and the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied past the St. Louis Blues 5-3.

Pittsburgh Penguins star center Sidney Crosby still isn't sure when he'll return from left wrist surgery.

Tristan Jarry had 26 saves, Danton Heinen and Brian Boyle scored early second-period goals, and the short-handed Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 in the regular-season opener.

Brad Marchand scored 3:36 into overtime and the Boston Bruins beat the New York Islanders 2-1 in Game 3 to take the lead in the second-round playoff series.

Islanders Penguins Hockey New York Islanders' Jordan Eberle (7) celebrates his goal in the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 24, 2021. Jarry ventured out of the Pittsburgh net to handle a loose puck and instead fed it right to Bailey, who gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series with the easiest of his three goals of the playoffs. Pittsburgh basically no-showed in Game 4 on Saturday as the Islanders drilled them in a 4-1 victory to even the series. The Penguins outshot New York 20-4 in the second period alone, taking the lead 7:37 into the period on Rust's long shot from outside the right circle. Jean-Gabriel Pageau stripped Penguin defenseman Brian Dumolin behind the Pittsburgh net and slipped it to Leo Komarov.

Josh Bailey scored 51 seconds into the second overtime to lift the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh in Game 5 of their first-round series.

The New York Islanders have evened their series with Pittsburgh by keeping Penguins star Sidney Crosby in check.

The Pittsburgh Penguins say the NHL's COVID-19 protocols may have helped their march to a division title.

Tristan Jarry made 29 saves for his first shutout of the season and Jake Guentzel scored in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust each scored their 20th goal of the season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2.

Tristan Jarry stopped 27 shots and the Pittsburgh Penguins jumped into second place in the East Division standings with a 3-2 win over Buffalo, eliminating the Sabres from playoff contention.

Kapanen scored two goals and the Penguins defeated the Flyers 5-2 on Tuesday night. Penguins’ players raised their sticks and saluted the fans in attendance following the win. Following a scoreless first period, Farabee and Kapanen scored 1:07 apart to open the second period. The Flyers will welcome fans back to the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday against Washington. The Penguins scored three goals and outshot the Flyers 13-3 to start the second period.