CASEY DESMITH

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

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.

Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuemper yanked his mask off and fell to the ice holding his head after being struck by a stick Saturday.

Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuemper yanked his mask off and fell to the ice holding his head after being struck by a stick Saturday. Replays showed Predators center Ryan Johansen's stick apparently poked through Kuemper's mask. Johansen watched a replay of the injury while standing at the boards.

Penguins Rangers Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith makes a save against the New York Rangers in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)There was a 6-foot-4, 220-pound hole in the Washington lineup in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. Tom Wilson's injury is one of many around the NHL playoffs that could tip the balance of a series. Washington and Florida are tied going into Game 3 on Saturday (1 p.m. EDT, ESPN), though the first two were polar opposites. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Injuries are threatening to tip the balance of a handful of first-round series around the NHL playoffs.

Penguins Rangers Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith makes a save against the New York Rangers in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)PITTSBURGH — (AP) — The rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff run won't include goaltender Casey DeSmith. Coach Mike Sullivan said DeSmith underwent core surgery on Friday morning and will miss the rest of the postseason. The surgery comes three days after DeSmith exited in the second overtime of Pittsburgh's 4-3 triple-overtime victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their first-round series. DeSmith entered the playoffs as Pittsburgh's top goaltender with All-Star Tristan Jarry sidelined with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith will miss the rest of the postseason after he had core surgery.

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.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)The physicality of the NHL playoffs is creeping into the crease. That can lead to officials calling goaltender interference, which can result in a 2-minute minor penalty or a disallowed goal. The issue emerged in a critical moment during the Pittsburgh-New York Rangers series opener, too. Tampa Bay, which has won eight consecutive playoff series, hasn’t lost back-to-back postseason games since being swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2019 opening round. Nick Leddy was held out of Game 2 with an upper-body injury he suffered and played through in Game 1.

The physicality of the NHL playoffs is creeping into the crease.

Carolina goalie Antti Raanta left the Hurricanes’ playoff game against the Boston Bruins in the first period Wednesday night after David Pastrnak struck him in the head with a gloved hand.

NEW YORK — (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins went into the playoffs knowing they would be without starting goalie Tristan Jarry for at least the first couple of games. Domingue was watching an extraordinary duel between DeSmith and Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin when DeSmith suddenly had to leave the game late in the second overtime. Up next: Domingue, who had just had a meal of "spicy pork" between the first two extra sessions. “I saw him go to the bench and I wasn’t sure why they blew the whistle,” Domingue said. I'm pretty lucky to be playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Pittsburgh Penguins went into the playoffs knowing they’d be without starting goalie Tristan Jarry for at least the first couple of games.

Penguins Rangers Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith makes a save against the New York Rangers in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) (Adam Hunger)NEW YORK — (AP) — 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 playoff series on Tuesday night. Jake Guentzel scored twice and Bryan Rust had a goal and two assists for the Penguins. Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist, and Adam Fox and Andrew Copp also scored for the Rangers. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in New York before shifting to Pittsburgh for two games.

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.

The eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have been set since before the All-Star break.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin their first-round playoff matchup with the New York Rangers without Tristan Jarry, though they haven't ruled out the All-Star's return before the end of the series. Head coach Mike Sullivan characterized Jarry as “day to day” but indicated Jarry would not be available when the best-of-seven series opens in New York on Tuesday. Jarry hasn't played since being diagnosed with a lower-body injury following a victory over the New York Islanders on April 14.

Sidney Crosby scored the second of his two goals at 2:21 of overtime for his 1,400th career point, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins snap a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.

Andrei Svechnikov scored on a power play at 3:14 of overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes completed a rally from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday night.

Sidney Crosby scored his 500th goal and Pittsburgh teammate Kris Letang capped a late rally to send the Penguins past the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in overtime.

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.

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

Brad Marchand had two of his three goals and set up another in Boston’s five-goal second period.

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The University of Northern Colorado football program won’t participate in the Big Sky Conference and FCS spring championship season. The Big Sky pushed its football schedule from last fall to the spring in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Northern Colorado will develop a spring schedule more in line with traditional spring football practice and explore possible games against regional opponents that reduce risks associated with extended travel. ___North Carolina Central says it will opt out of a spring football season due to concerns about health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Eagles are part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Championship Subdivision, which delayed its football season until spring amid the pandemic.

DeSmith figured Ovechkin would try to fire one past him rather than deke his way to the net. DeSmith stayed upright as Ovechkin closed in and felt the familiar smack of rubber hitting him and not the net. “I thought our guys played hard in the second and third against a really good team,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. While Sullivan remains confident Jarry will be fine, he turned to DeSmith to help get Pittsburgh going. Washington went 1 for 4 on the power play, a tap-in goal by Backstrom in the second that gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead.