Penguins Alive, Rip Rangers 5-2

Last night as the Penguins were in the process of closing out a 5-2 victory over the Rangers that was as stunning as it was improbable, Pearl Jam’s “Alive” was blaring out from the Sonos system at Wright’s Gym.

Indeed, Eddie Vedder’s refrain “I stay alive” seemed perfectly in sync with the Pens’ present playoff situation. With our backs to the proverbial wall, we’ve suddenly gone 3-0-2 in our last five games and 5-3-3 in our last 11 to keep a precarious foothold in the playoff picture.

If we buck what are still long (long) odds against us and somehow make it in, we can thank our captain Sidney Crosby. Following a brief and understandable post-deadline funk that saw the departure of longtime sidekick Jake Guentzel, Sid’s sucked it up to the tune of five goals and 18 points in our last 10 games, including an incendiary four goals and 13 points in his past five.

Incredible.

Talk about leading from in front.

With five goals and seven points in those same five games, Bryan Rust is likewise coming through in the clutch. Can’t say enough about Rusty’s grit, passion and determination.

Off the charts.

Both notched a pair of goals last night in the unfriendly confines of Madison Square Garden to lead us to a surprise and desperately needed victory over the Blueshirts.

Without further ramble, to the game.

Seizing the initiative, the Pens struck just 18 seconds in. Reilly Smith picked headhunter Jacob Trouba’s pocket and fed Crosby, who wasted no time in testing Igor Shesterkin. The rebound popped off the goalie’s pads and right to Rust, who swatted it home from the slot for his 25^th goal of the campaign.

Next up, Sid. Just past the midway point of the period, he deflected Pierre-Olivier Joseph’s long-range blast past Shesterkin for a 2-0 lead.

While the Rangers proceeded to pile up sizeable advantages on the shot clock, the Pens…suddenly disciplined and committed to defense…held serve through a scoreless second period. Flipping out usual script, we kept the Blueshirts away from Alex Nedeljkovic and the prime scoring areas.

Then came the play of the game at 9:51 of the third period. Defending hard at our blue line, Jesse Puljujärvi hounded William Cuylie into a turnover and nudged the puck to Emil Bemström. The ex-CBJ streaked into the Rangers’ zone and beat Shesterkin glove side on a breakaway to make it 3-zip good guys.

Ah, but we’ve seen this scenario before, haven’t we? Indeed, we’ve blown two sizeable third-period leads in the past nine days.

Sure enough, just 51 seconds later the Rags’ Kaapo Kakko (great hockey name) lasered the puck in from a sharp angle…barely. Nedeljkovic actually snared the rubber in his glove, but his backward momentum allowed the puck to cross the line.

When the Rangers pulled to within one at 16:53 on a side of the net snipe by Jack Roslovic? Yeah, I confess I was sweatin’ bullets.

Then trusty Rusty split the empty Rangers net from long-range at 17:49 to restore our two-goal edge. With 45 seconds to play, Crosby blocked a shot by the Bread Man, Artemi Panarin, and proceeded to steam up the ice to pot an empty netter of his own.

Hmmm. Eddie Vedder…empty netter.

We stay alive, indeed.

Puckpourri

According to our friends at Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers held a sizeable edge in shot attempts (66-48) and shots on goal (30-20) along with a slight advantage in scoring chances (25-23). Our boys had much the better of the high-danger chances (12-6), reinforcing how well we defended in the battle areas.

All-in-all, it was a gritty, gutsy effort by our Pens. In addition to battling on-ice foes, we’re contending with an illness that’s been sweeping through the dressing room. Scheduled starter in net Tristan Jarry and kid defenseman John Ludvig are the latest to succumb. The latter was replaced Ryan Shea, who played his first game since December 8.

Reported to be sick, too, Drew O’Connor battled through. Bemström replaced Sam Poulin, who was a healthy scratch.

Thanks to his three-point night (2+1), Sid equaled Wayne Gretzky’s record of 19 consecutive seasons with at least a point per game. A truly incredible feat for an amazing athlete.

I know Smith doesn’t get a lot of lovin’ in these parts. But, at least to my eye, he’s around the other team’s net an awful lot.

Have to include Nedeljkovic among our recent heroes. With Ned in net, we’re 3-0-2 in our last five and 4-0-2 in his last six starts. Over his last eight appearances, the Parma, Ohio native’s posted a 2.37 goals against average and .919 save percentage.

Shades of Alex Lyon and the Panthers’ miracle stretch run last season?

Ned’s 13-6-6 on the season compared to Jarry’s 19-24-5.

Speaking of numbers, where in the wide, wide world of sports has Erik Karlsson’s productivity gone? EK65’s pointless in his last seven games and has just three assists in his past 18.

Oh…Alex Nylander scored two more goals for the CBJ last night. That gives him 10 in 17 games with the Blue Jackets.

On Deck

In a game rife with playoff implications, the Pens (33-30-11, 77 points) visit the Devils (36-34-4, 76 points) tonight. It figures to be the stiffest of tests…the skilled, speedy Devils have owned us of late.

Then on to DC to take on the Capitals (36-27-10, 82 points) on Thursday night.

It isn’t a stretch to say these next two games decide our postseason fate.

We’re currently five points out of the second Eastern Conference wild card spot. We trail third-in-the-Metro Philly by six points…with two games in hand.