Rangers blank Pens, extend series to Sunday

NEW YORK — Jaromir Jagr scored two goals and the New York Rangers staved off elimination Thursday night with a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins, who lost for the first time in eight playoff games this year, lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal 3-1. They will try again to finish off the Rangers in Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Only two NHL teams have come back to win after trailing 3-0, and none have done it since the 1975 New York Islanders against Pittsburgh.

Jagr’s second-period goal broke a scoreless tie, and Henrik Lundqvist did the rest with a 29-save performance. Jagr’s empty-net goal made it 3-0.

The Rangers beat the Penguins at home for the fifth time in six games this season.

Complete story appears in Friday’s edition.