-The Penguins' starters are Matt Cooke, Tyler Kennedy, Jordan Staal, Paul Martin, Matt Niskanen and Marc-Andre Fleury.

-Their scratches are Kris Letang, Zbynek Michalek and Richard Park.

-The Rangers' starters are Sean Avery, Brandon Dubinsky, Brandon Prust, Michael Del Zotto, Michael Sauer and Henrik Lundqvist.

-Their scratches are Erik Christensen, Andre Deveaux and Anton Stralman.

-Crosby (Nova Scotia) versus Brad Richards (Prince Edward Island). Winner gets a lobster.

-Root Sports provides the Penguins' lines and defensive pairings:

-Also, no Marc Staal tonight. This should be the only time you see this:

19:44: As play comes to a halt for an offsides, Sean Avery and Tyler Kennedy renew acquaintances. Kennedy checks him a few times then they drop the gloves. Kennedy appears to land a few punches before Avery tackles him to the ice.  They each get roughing minors. That's not the first time they have droppe the gloves:

19:10: Jordan Staal barges in off the right winb by Del Zotto and attacks the net. Lundqvist holds out his forehand shot.

18:59: Marian Gaborik releases a high, heavy wrister from the left circle. Fleury fights it off to the opposite circle. Derek Stepan is there for the rebound but Matt Niskanen goes stick on puck and forces the shot wide.

18:31: Richards outworks Deryk Engelland behind the cage and deals a pass to McDonagh sneaking down the slot. McDonagh puts an immediate shot on net. Fleury boots it out. Tough save.

18:21: Crosby carries the puck up the right wing for the first time and is greeted with boos. He pulls up at the right point of the Rangers' zone zone and deals a cross ice pass to Martin at the left point. Martin taps it to Engelland in teh slot. Englland rips a wrister off the left post. Argh.

18:03: Crosby booms a one-timer from the right cirle. Lundqvist bodies it away.

17:52: Off a turnover by Artem Anisimov, Dupuis races into the offensive zone and snaps off a wrister from the right circle. Lundqvist eats it up.

17:44: Just as Orpik snaps off a wrister from the left circle, Avery and Kennedy come out of the box and drop the gloves again. They go right at each other. Kennedy lands a few rights before they fall to the ice. Each players sneaks in a few rabbit punches. They just plain don't like each other.

15:43: Craig Adams is tripped up by Anisimov in the right wing corner of the Penguins' zone. No call.

14:24: Ruslan Fedotenko has a chance from the left circle but his shot is deflected out of play with a stick on puck by Martin. And Fedotenko is a former Penguin:

13:26: Broadcaster Bob Errey pulls a quick "the Staals are brothers" but not the combo you think:

7:55: Coming back from commercial, Kris Letang is spotted in the arena. Using special EN technology, we are able to find out what Letang is doing on his cell phone:

7:14: Dan Girari booms a one-tmer from the right point. It hits a cluster of bodies in front:

7:01: Brandon Prust hooks up Adams in the slot of the Penguins' zone. Sullivan, Crosby, Malkin, Neal and Martin take the ice.

6:54: From the right point, Martin shuffles a pass to Sullivan on the left half wall. Sullivan one-touches it and whips a wrister wide on the near side.

6:10: Martin booms a one-timer from the top of the slot. Despite a screen by Kunitz, Lundqvist punches it out with a "thud."

5:53: Malkin chops a one-timer from the right circle. Lundqvist says no.

5:46: Kunitz takes a tumps on the right side of the cage and tries to jam it low. Lundqvist kicks it out.

3:40: Dupuis chops a one-timer from the slot. Lundqvist knocks it down. Vitale is in front battling but can't get a stick on the rebound.

3:25: Vitale and Eminger wrestle for position in front of the Rangers' crease. Eminger loses his cool and mugs Vitale. They battle some more before officials step in. Eminger and Lundqvist each get roughing minors on Vitale. Vitale gets a roughing minor too. The Penguins get a powe rplay. Crosby, Neal, Malkin, Martin and Sullivan take the ice.

2:17: Crosby pounds a slapper from the right circle. Girardi challenges and blocks it. The puck is cleared. Girardi heads to the bench smarting.

2:04: Martin taps a pass to Crosby on the righ twing. Crosby flings a backhander to the right circle. Neal takes the pass and snaps off a lethal wrister under the blocker of Lundqvist. What a shot. Crosby and Martin get assists. Penguins 1-0.

1:22: Off a scrum near the Penguins' net, Orpik and Richards are sent to the penalty box for minors. Orpik for cross checking. Orpik for slashing.

0:55: Martin recovers a loose puck at his own blue line and sneaks up the right wing. He chucks a wirster on net. Lundqvist kicks it out to the slot. Kunitz is there but Artem Anisimov ties his stick up enough to prevent a shot. Lundqvist covers to freeze play.

0:40: Gaborik appears to get tripped up by  Malkin at the right point of the Penguins' zone. No call.

0:01: Neal fires a spinning last second from the right of the crease. Lundqvist fights it off.

0:00: End of period. Penguins 1, Rangers 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-That was a pretty fun period of hockey. Lots of skating. Some fighting. Some skirmishes. Plenty of shots. And some tough saves.

-The officiating has been suspect thus far. There has been plenty of potential penalties let go.

-Paul Martin is stepping up in the absence of Letang. He's picked up some more minutes, primarily on the power play and he just looks confident anytime he has it. On top of that, he's been outstanding defensively in one-on-one situations.

-James Neal looks like he could do some damage to Lundqvist's goals against average tonight. The puck is coming off his stick like a rocket.

-Gaborik was probably the Ranger's best offensive player. He just created so much with his skating.

-The Penguins have a 14-9 lead in shots.

-Dupuis leads the Penguins with four.

-Carl Hagelin leads the Rangers with three.

-Niskanen leads the game with 9:05.

-Del Zotto leads the Rangers with 8:36.

-The Rangers have a 12-6 lead in faceoffs (67 percent).

-Boyle is 4 for 5 (80 percent).

-Staal is 2 for 5 (40 percent).

-Girardi and Martin each lead the game with two blocked shots.

-Also, they were playing "Renegade" during the intermission. That's a good omen for anyone with ties to Pittsburgh right?

SECOND PERIOD

18:32: Cooke has a half slapper from the left circle blocked by Fedotenko.

18:08: Engelland snaps off a wrister from above the right circle. Lundqvist fights it off despite a screen.

17:09: Callahan tries to challenge Picard one-on-one in the slot. Picard dumps him to the ice for his troubles.

15:18: Vitale knocks Jeff Woywitka off a puck in the left wing corner of the Rangers' zone with a hard forecheck.

14:30: Fleury kicks out a handful of chances by Boyle and Hagelin in tight.

13:50: On a delayed penalty, Girardi booms a one-timer on net. Fleury's traps it against his body with his left arm. Dupuis is called for tripping Boyle.

12:40: Stepan snaps off a heavy wrister from above the right circle. Fleury kicks it out to the slot. Gaborik is there and whips the puck on net. Fleury boots it out with his right skate. Big save.

11:59: Wow. Just wow. What skating. Gaborik takes a pass at the left point, weaves his way around Kunitz and from the left circle, he deals a pass through the skates of Niskanen to Callahan on the back door. Callahan deposits the puck into the open cage behind a helpless Fleury. What an effort by Gaborik. That's Callahan's 10th point in seven games against the Penguins. Gaborik and Richards get assists. That lame "LET'S GO RANGERS!" song is played. Penguins 1, Rangers 1.

10:53: Bortuzzo knocks Avery off his skates at the red line with a stiff body check.

10:47: Malkin skates in offsides. McDonagh tries to hit him after the whistle and misses. Bortuzzo shoves him to the ice.

10:05: Prust controls the puck behind Penguins' net and distributes a pass to Dubinsky in the left circle. Dubinsky puts an immediate shot on net. Fleury fends it off.

9:53: Malkin races into the offensive zone one-on-one against Del Zotto. He gets a step to the outside in the right circle and flings a backhander on net. Lundqvist knocks it dead and covers.

9:30: Dan Bylsma has the Michel Therrien Bingo Ball Machine/Line Combinations Machine running as he switches Arron Asham and Matt Cooke ont he third and fourth lines.

6:29: Anisimov trips up Malkin on the right wing wall. No call.

5:51: John Mitchell? Huh? Del Zotto wraps an outlet pass from behind his net off the right wing boards of his own zone. Hagelin recovers the puck at the red line, weaves his way into the offensive zone and leaves a drop pass for Mitchell. From the right circle, Mitchell grips and rips a wrister to the far side toasting Fleury over his left shoulder. What a shot. Hagelin and Boyle each get assists. Rangers 2-1.

4:21: Whoa. What a shot. The Rangers work the puck into the offensive zone. Fdotenko spins off the right whalf wall and whips a wrister to Richards in the slot. Orpik gives him an acre of ice to work with. Richards takes it and whips a wrister by the glove hand of Fleury. A bad goal for the Penguins to give up. Fleury smacks his stick into the boards in frustration. Fedotenko and Callahan get assists. Fire Ray Shero. Rangers 3-1.

3:30: Avery chops a shot on net from the left circle. Fleury eats it up.

2:25: The Penguins get break. Staal chips a pck in from the left circle. Malkin appears to chip it up in the air. It flutters up in the air and hits the back of Cooke. It hops into Sauer's right arm and bounces into the cage. Officials immediately rule it no goal. Cooke complains to the officials that Sauer knocked it into his own net. A lengthy video review takes place and confirms the non-goal. The rule it was struck by Cooke's high stick. It's a good call.

2:12: Neal is called for tripping Fedotenko on the right wing boards. Martin, Orpik, Staal and Dupuis take the ice.

1:45: Richards flings a wrister from the right wing boards out of play. Fleury kicks it out of play.

1:34: And the Rangers keep piling. Richard snaps off a pass from the right half wall to Del Zotto. Del Zotto dishes it to Gaborik in front of the crease. Gaborik chops at the puck a couple of times and is able to force the by the left leg of Gaborik. Orpik may have kicked the puck in. Del Zotto and Richards get assists. Rangers 4-1.

0:21: Richards has a salpper from the right wing blocked by Bortuzzo.

0:07: The Penguins need this in a big way. Sullivan drives the puck up the right wing and leaves a drop pass for Neal above the left circle. Neal pounds a slapper. Lundqvist kicks it out. There's a fat juicy rebound in the right circle. Malkin is all over it and punches it by the left leg of a flailing Lundqvist. Richards appeared to hit Bortuzzo from behind on that play in the neutral zone. Rangers 4-2.

0:00: End of period. Rangers 4, Penguins 2.

SECOND INTERMISSION

-The Penguins' just got overwhelmed defensively that period. They allowed the Rangers to operate with too much time and space in their own zone. We realize Michalek and Letang are absent, but that can't be an excuse. The replacements know the system.

-There aren't many times you can say Fleury has played poorly this season, but he was sub par that period. He needs to be better.

-The Rangers can be a very scary team if everyone ever gets healthy.

-Shots are tied, 24-24.

-Dupuis, Neal, Malkin, Boyle, Gaborik and Hagelin each lead the game with four shots.

-Del Zotto leads the game with 16:54 of ice time.

-Niskanen leads the Penguins with 15:37.

-The Rangers are dominating faceoffs, 29-11 (73 percent).

-Richards is 7 for 9 (78 percent).

-Dupuis is 1 for 2 (50 percent).

-Girardi leads the game with four blocked shots.

-Dupuis and Picard each lead the Penguins with two.

THIRD PERIOD

18:43: Stepan recovers a loose puck in the right circle and tries to tap a pass to Gaborik on the back door. Fleury kicks it out with his right skate.

16:21: Pascal Dupuis' hot streak continues. Crosby drives to the net from the left circle and gets hoked up drawing a penalty. Dupuis picks up the loose puck and snaps off a rocket of a backhander by the glove hand of a stunned Lundqvist. Wow. Crosby and Engelland get assists. Rangers 4-3.

14:46: After his team ices the puck, Rangers coach John Tortorella calls timeout to give his players a breather.

14:26: A big chance here as McDonagh is called for thlding the stick of Kunitz. Martin, Sullivan, Malkin, Neal and Malkin take the ice.

13:48: Crosby backhand chips a pass to Sullivan in the left circle. Sullivan pounds a slapper wide of the cage.

12:26: The McDonagh minor is killed without the Penguins getting a shot on net.

12:07: Gaborik has a chance to end the game essentially but fails. Off a turnover by Kunitz in the neutral zone, Stepan pushes the puck up the right wing on a two-on-on with Gaborik against Niskanen. Niskanen slides down to prevent the pass. Stepan waits until he slides out of the play and deals a pass to Gabork in the slot. Gaborik has a month to shoot but rips a wrister wide of the left of the cage. Oof.

10:23: Off a faceoff win by Vitale in the left circle in the Rangers' zone, Niskanen snaps off a wrister. It hits a body in front.

10:06: Asham chops a shot from the right wing. Lundqvist fends it off.

9:27: Anisimov has a wrister from the slot blocked by a kneeling Crosby.

9:05: Hagelin flings a wrister from the left wing to the far side. Fleury bats it away with his glove.

8:11: Staal settles a  bouncing puck in the slot, spins and whips it on net. Lundqvist kicks it out with his right leg.

7:59: With the Rangers called for icing, Lundqivst buys his teammates a break adjusts something in his gear. Veteran move.

7:25: Malkin has a chance in tight poked away by Lundqvist. Big play.

7:19: What a stupuid penalty. Sauer controls the puck on the left wing boards and has his stick broken by a slash from Malkin. Kunitz could have been called for charging too as he left his skates to hit Sauer high. Malkin is sent off for slashing. The Penguins must kill this. Orpik, Martin, Adams and Staal take the ice.

6:42: Tough spot here. Gaborik races into the offensive zone with speed and his chopped by Dupuis and Egnelland. Orpik slams him to the ice with a body check. ENgelland is called for hooking. Five on three for 1:22. Adams, Cooke and Orpik take the ice.

5:35: Richards pumps a shot from the right point. Fleury fends i toff.

5:26: Orpik has a brain cramp and trips up Callhan.

5:19: Malkin's minor is killed.

5:11: Play is halted. Orpik heads to the box. The Rangers will have another two-man advantage for 31 seconds. Cooke, Martin and Adams take the ice.

4:41: Just as the Engelland minor is killed. McDonagh drives a one-timer from the left slot. Adams challenges and blocks the shot. THe puck flutters out of play. The Rangers still have 1:28 of a one-man advantage.

4:04: Engelland controls a puck in the left wing corner and drives it down ice for a clear.

3:27: Cooke flings a clearing attempt from the right wing boards down ice for another clear.

3:11: Kunitz drives the puck up the right wing and kills off the rest of Orpik's minor. What an effort!

2:54: Kunitz bumps Fedotenko from the side. Hip on hip. Fedotenko crashes into the boards face first. Fedotenko is slow to get up. That's two minutes for boarding. That's a ticky tack call regardless of the time of the game. Staal, Orpik Dupuis and Martin take the ice. Another kill is needed here.

1:45: Fedotenko swats a one-timer from the left circle. Engelland blocks it down and Fleury covers to freeze play.

1:23: Anisimov and Gaborik challenge Engelland two on one. Engelland is able to

1:03: The Penguins send Malkin and Crosby out to kill off the rest of the penalty.

0:45: Fleury is pulled for an extra attacker.

0:34: Malkin flings a wrister frot he right circle wide to the far side.

0:07: Gaborik flings a wrister from the left point wide of the open cage.

0:00: End of period. Rangers 4, Penguins 3.

POSTGAME

-That was the 2010-11 version of the Penguins in terms of discipline. Too many penalties. Especially late. It doesn't matter if you can kill off every penalty in the world (and the Penguins couldn't do that tonight), taking penalties limits what you can do offensively. As a result of all the penalties they took in the third period, the Penguins could only must three official shots on net.

-Conversely, the Penguins' power play could have been sharper. It did get a goal and going 1 for 4 isn't anything to dismiss, the Penguins could have used another goal obviously.

-Marc-Andre Fleury was not particularly sharp tonight, especially in the second period. Given the way he's played most of the season, he can be given some slack.

-Playing without Kris Letang and Zbynek Michalek on short notice was a killer. Paul Martin, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik and Deryk Engelland had to pick up a whole mess of minutes as a result. Alexandre Picard and Robert Bortuzzo did okay in poor circumstances.

-Remember how Pascal Dupuis wasn't a scoring winger? The guy has 20 points in 25 games.

-Engelland was outstanding tonight. He really had to play some hard minutes, especially on the penalty kill. He even offered a few things offensively. He's really developing into a fairly complete player.

-Lundqvist was hardly tested beyond the first period. But he did what he needed to for the win.

-Brad Richards is some player huh? He just controls the world when he has the puck. It's scary anytime it comes off his stick.

-When he's healthy, Marian Gaborik might be the best skater in the league. And it's not just speed. He moves differently than everyone on the ice.

-The Rangers had a 30-27 lead in shots.

-Carl Hagelin led the game with six.

-Dupuis led the Penguins with five.

-Michael Del Zotto led the game with 27:41 of ice time.

-Martin led the Penguins with 23:31.

-The Rangers dominated in faceoffs, 40-17 (70 percent).

-Richards was 13 for 16 (81 percent).

-Crosby was 9 for 20 (45 percent).

-Dan Girardi led the game with four blocked shots.

-Martin and Picard each led the Penguins with three.

-Dupuis moved past Zarley Zalapski for 58th place on the franchise's all-time scoring list. Both players have 135 points but Dupuis (56) has more goals than Zalapski (33).

-Game summary.

-Event summary.

-Highlights: