Penguins allow 2 goals, but still push Rangers to brink of elimination with 4-2 win

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Brandon Sutter scored a short-handed goal to break a second-period tie, and the Pittsburgh Penguins moved within one win of the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Pittsburgh, which has won three straight following a series-opening loss, can advance with a Game 5 victory at home Friday night.

Evgeni Malkin scored 2:31, and Jussi Jokinen made it 3-1 at 7:02 of the third before the teams traded late goals. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 13 shots.

The only negative for the Penguins was that Fleury allowed a goal for the first time in three games. Carl Hagelin’s tying tally in the second period was the Rangers’ first goal in 145 minutes, 30 seconds of playing time.

Mats Zuccarello backhanded in a goal with 6:53 left to cut the Rangers’ deficit to 3-2, on only their second shot of the third, but Chris Kunitz restored Pittsburgh’s two-goal edge 57 seconds later.