Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Kevin Hayes’ first career postseason goal
was a big one, as he scored 3:14 into overtime to lift the New York Rangers to
a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins for a commanding series lead in the
Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
In the extra session, Martin St. Louis tracked down the puck behind the net
and sent it into the slot. Carl Hagelin located the loose puck and backhanded
it through the crease and under Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury to Hayes,
who tapped it in to seal the win.
Hayes is the first Rangers rookie to score a playoff overtime goal on the road
and is also the first New York player to score his first playoff goal in
overtime since Don Murdoch on April 13, 1978.
Derick Brassard scored his third goal of the postseason and Henrik Lundqvist
made 22 saves in another strong performance between the pipes for the Rangers,
who are up 3-1 and will look to win this best-of-seven series Friday night at
Madison Square Garden.
Patric Hornqvist supplied Pittsburgh’s lone goal and Fleury stopped 22 shots
for the Penguins, who have lost their last six overtime playoff games.
