LOUIS DOMINGUE

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.

Penguins star Sidney Crosby left with about seven minutes remaining in the second period with an apparent injury and didn't return. Game 6 is Friday in Pittsburgh, and a potential deciding Game 7 would be Sunday back at Madison Square Garden. With the Penguins leading 1-0 after 20 minutes, Pittsburgh's Mike Matheson hit a goalpost 3 1/2 minutes into the second period. The Rangers outshot the Penguins 11-10 in the first period, limited mostly to shots from the outside. LINEUPLindgren returned to the Rangers' lineup after missing the previous three games following an upper body injury in Game 1 of this series.

Filip Chytil scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period and the New York Rangers staved off elimination with a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.

Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to become the sixth player in NHL history to reach 200 career playoff points and the Pittsburgh Penguins throttled the New York Rangers 7-2 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Rangers Penguins Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins' Evan Rodrigues (9) celebrates his second goal of the first period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 7, 2022. The reality is surpassing the Pittsburgh Penguins' backup to the backup goaltender's greatest expectations. “We had a chance to change the game and we couldn’t get one,” Rangers forward Ryan Strome said. Forward Rikard Rackell also missed his second straight game after leaving Game 1 following a hit to the head. ... Rangers played without injured F Tyler Motte (upper body), F Barclay Goodrow (lower body) and D Ryan Lindgren (lower body).

Rangers Penguins Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins' Jeff Carter (77) celebrates his goal in the first period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 7, 2022. Jeff Carter also scored twice for the Penguins while Brock McGinn started the scoring on a wild night with his first goal of the playoffs. The 30-year-old journeyman put together a flurry of stops early in the third period with the Penguins on the penalty kill to set the stage for Heinen's heroics. NOTES: The Penguins played without D Brian Dumoulin (lower-body injury) for the second straight game. Forward Rikard Rackell also missed his second straight game after leaving Game 1 following a hit to the head.

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.

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.

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

RALEIGH, N.C. — (AP) — 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. Raanta was playing the puck when Pastrnak skated in and hit Raanta in the helmet with his right glove as he went by. Raanta went down with blood coming from near his nose or mouth after the play in Game 2. He had 35 saves in the 5-1 win in Game 1 after earning his first playoff start while No. 1 goaltender Frederik Andersen is out with a lower-body injury from late in the regular season.

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.

Penguins star Sidney Crosby is expected to play in Pittsburgh’s game at Washington after he and three teammates were activated from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.