NHL PLAYOFFS

Penguins still under Rangers' spell

Pittsburgh Penguins' Steve Downie (23) fights for control of the puck with New York Rangers' Kevin Hayes (13) during the second period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday, April 16, 2015, in New York.  (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Steve Downie (23) fights for control of the puck with New York Rangers' Kevin Hayes (13) during the second period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday, April 16, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

RANGERS 2, PENGUINS 1

NEW YORK -- Derick Brassard and Ryan McDonough scored in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist made the goals stand up as the New York Rangers won the opener of their playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on Thursday night.

New York shut down Pittsburgh's top threats, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, for a fourth consecutive victory over the Penguins in the postseason. The Rangers won the final three games of a second-round series last year, rallying from a 3-1 deficit.

In compiling the best record in the NHL, the Rangers finished 15 points ahead of Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference. But after the first period these were two very even teams, with Lundqvist and Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury particularly outstanding. Lundqvist finished with 24 saves, while Fleury was far busier in making 36.

Blake Comeau scored in the second period for Pittsburgh.

Game 2 is in New York on Saturday night.

Brassard got things started only 28 seconds in when Fleury sent the rebound of Rick Nash's hard slap shot directly into the slot. Brassard was uncovered for a quick wrist shot, the center screaming in delight as the puck went in.

The Garden fans were celebrating again late in the period when New York's slumping power play connected. On its third of four man-advantages -- and the only one that threatened -- in the opening 20 minutes, McDonough's slapper from midpoint sneaked past Fleury.

Although New York kept control early in the second period, Comeau lifted the Penguins within one, knocking in a rebound with congestion around Lundqvist's crease for his first career playoff goal. That perked up the Penguins, with Malkin and Brandon Sutter getting dangerous chances, and Lundqvist flashing his right pad to thwart Maxim Lapierre.

Fleury also was strong at the other end, with the Rangers unable to convert several rebounds off his sharp saves.

That led to a tense, scramble third period in which the goaltenders dominated.

The last time the Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy was also the last time they won the Stanley Cup, 1993-94, with a star-laden lineup. This group doesn't have a Mark Messier or Brian Leetch, but it is deep and resourceful.

Having made the finals before losing to Los Angeles a year ago has given the Rangers a sense of confidence they'd lacked for much of the interim. On Thursday, they showed it in particular in shutting down Crosby and Malkin.

Pittsburgh, whose defense is ravaged by injuries, barely squeezed into the postseason, needing to beat lowly Buffalo on the final day. The Penguins also have the bitter memory of blowing that 3-1 lead to New York last year. That was the only playoff series in which the Rangers have beaten the Penguins.

RED WINGS 3, LIGHTNING 2

TAMPA, Fla. -- Pavel Datsyuk scored twice and Petr Mrazek had 44 saves in his NHL playoff debut to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series.

Datsyuk scored on two of the first four shots the Red Wings got against Tampa Bay's Ben Bishop. Luke Glendening's short-handed goal gave Detroit a 3-1 lead early in the third period.

Mrazek, named Detroit's starter for Game 1 over veteran Jimmy Howard, gave up a short-handed goal to Brian Boyle in the first period and a late goal to Nikita Nesterov that enabled the Lightning to pull within 3-2.

Tampa Bay outshot the Red Wings 46-14 but went 0 for 7 on the power play, failing to even get a shot off on the final opportunity in the closing seconds of the game.

Sports on 04/17/2015

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