Pens lose shootout

NEW YORK (AP) — Nikolai Zherdev scored with 8.1 seconds left to force overtime and Fredrik Sjostrom netted the only goal of the shootout in the New York Rangers’ stirring 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

The Penguins had their three-game winning streak snapped despite entering the third period with a 2-0 lead. Marc-Andre Fleury made 42 saves, but couldn’t deny Zherdev and Sjostrom, who helped the Rangers improve to 8-2-1.

Sidney Crosby, who scored his third goal in four games, had a chance to match Sjostrom’s third-round shootout goal but was forced wide right by Henrik Lundqvist and couldn’t score from a tough angle.

Zherdev had gone four games without a point before posting a goal and two assists in a successful return to Columbus against his former Blue Jackets teammates on Friday. But his wrist shot from the right circle in the final seconds of regulation sailed over Fleury’s shoulder to tie it at 2.

Sjostrom tucked the puck inside the right post with a backhand in the final round of the shootout.

The Penguins outshot the Rangers 4-2 in a fast-paced overtime, but trailed them overall 44-29.