Missing key players, New York Rangers fall to Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-2

The New York Rangers were without star goalie Henrik Lundqvist, captain Ryan Callahan and defenseman Michael Del Zotto. The Pittsburgh Penguins were riding a 9-game winning streak (21-4-1 since Jan. 11) and welcomed back scoring phenom Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang, who were previously out with concussions. The result? A 5-2 Pittsburgh win last night at Madison Square Garden and a suddenly close race for the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, which New York now leads by only 4 points. Photos by Avi Gerver, ©Madison Square Garden, L.P.

New York’s Brian Boyle levels Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin:

Boyle fires a shot on goal:

New York’s Derek Stepan and Pittsburgh’s Tyler Kennedy:

The Rangers’ Marian Gaborik attempts to score in the third period against Penguins goalie Marc-André Fleury and defenseman Zbynek Michalek: