Pens’ playoff mindset pays off

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma took a playoff-like approach to a February meeting with the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers.

Marc-Andre Fleury sent a message with his glove, Evgeni Malkin delivered one with his patience, and the Penguins punctuated it with perhaps their best game of the season.

Fleury stopped 27 shots to tie Tom Barrasso’s franchise record for career shutouts, and Malkin scored his 33rd goal of the season as the Penguins beat the Rangers 2-0 on Tuesday night.

“We wanted to make a statement with every shift, every period we play against them,” Bylsma said.

Pittsburgh topped the Rangers at home for the first time since 2009 behind Fleury, who made a series of flashy glove saves while earning his 22nd career shutout — tying the mark Barrasso set between 1988-2000. Barrasso reached the milestone in his 438th game, but Fleury needed only 418 to get there.

“For me to be able to reach him for the shutout means a lot to me,” Fleury said. “I’ve been fortunate to play with good teams.”

The Penguins looked like one two days after getting crushed 6-2 in Buffalo. Needing to bounce back, Pittsburgh played with a sense of urgency, dominating the puck at times against a team that is among the best defensive units in the league.

“I think that was our first complete 60-minute game in a long time,” said Pittsburgh forward Steve Sullivan, who scored a power-play goal in the second to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead. “We got something from everybody.”

The Rangers didn’t, and lost for the second time in three games. They pulled out an overtime win against Columbus on Sunday after allowing the tying goal late in regulation.

New York coach John Tortorella refused to point fingers even though his club has scored only five goals during the stretch amid speculation the Rangers could acquire Columbus forward Rick Nash.

“We ended up with some good chances tonight, we just couldn’t finish,” Tortorella said.