PITTSBURGH — Rangers on Olympic Break

The Rangers continue their Olympic hiatus, but their last game before the NHL’s 19-day break was less than inspiring. They fell to the Penguins 6-5, marking their 14th loss to Pittsburgh in just 18 meetings.

For much of the night at PPG Paints Arena, it seemed like the Rangers were wishing they were anywhere but on the ice. They haven’t managed to win two consecutive games in over a month now.

As rumors swirl about potential roster changes, the players’ body language suggests an unsettling environment that could linger for a while. Still, it’s important for them to maintain some pride in their performance. But honestly, their opponents seem to thrive on the Rangers’ discomfort.

On the other side, the Penguins have emerged as one of the league’s top teams since late December. The atmosphere was electric right from the start, especially after honoring members of the 2016 Stanley Cup championship team during a pregame ceremony, which included Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan and injured player Connor Sheary.

Pittsburgh, riding a five-game winning streak, quickly established control in the game, scoring on two of their first four shots. Before long, the Rangers found themselves in a familiar position—falling behind early.

The first period raised concerns, shifting focus to the Rangers’ younger players. One notable instance was Noah Laba, who, after recently returning from an upper-body injury, suffered another hit. He attempted to skate during a timeout but appeared to injure his shoulder and headed to the locker room. Though he briefly returned for a shift in the second, he couldn’t continue.

Scott Morrow, a rookie defenseman, had a rough night. He gave away the puck leading to the Penguins’ first goal and was also penalized late in the game. Matt Rempe was on the ice for the first two Pittsburgh goals as well.

The Rangers didn’t score until late in the second period, finding the net on their first shot of that frame. Alexis Lafreniere finally broke his seven-game scoring drought with a goal during a 4-on-3 advantage, contributing to the team’s overall four goals in the contest.

However, the Penguins quickly struck back, scoring twice within a mere 20 seconds in the third period. Noel Acciari took advantage of a penalty against Will Quill, cementing Pittsburgh’s dominance in the game.