Penguins blank Rangers to take 2-0 lead

NEW YORK: The Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the New York Rangers 2-0 on Sunday, Jordan Staal's powerplay goal in the second period putting the home team on course for a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Staal scored 13:55 into the middle session and the Penguins added an empty-netter with 16.7 seconds remaining for their second consecutive win in the best-of-seven series.

In Sunday's Western Conference semifinal game, the Stars scored four goals in the third period to rout the San Jose Sharks 5-2, the second consecutive road win giving Dallas a 2-0 series lead.

Pittsburgh netminder Marc-Andre Fleury played a big role in the win by making 26 saves.

The resolute Penguins defense killed off two New York powerplay opportunities in the final six minutes to give Fleury his second shutout of the post-season.

Game 3 is in New York on Tuesday.

Staal collected his second playoff goal off an assist by Evgeni Malkin, after the Russian center had beaten Jordan's brother Marc, a Rangers defenseman.

Malkin fed his teammate from the base of the left circle and Staal shifted from his backhand to his forehand to push the puck past Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist.

"I just tried to make a quick move and shoot it on net," Staal told reporters.

The second goal went to Adam Hall after his long clearing pass off the boards on the right side of the neutral zone rolled into the unguarded net.

The Rangers were 0-6 on the powerplay and had a goal disallowed when an official blew his whistle on Martin Straka's shot before it crossed the line with 4:13 to play.

The official lost sight of the puck when Straka continued to strike at it under Fleury's pads.

"I knew I had it underneath my pads," Fleury told reporters. "The guy just kept swinging at my pads and the referee blew (the whistle)."

Rangers coach Tom Renney told reporters: "I thought it was an accurate call. I don't know if it was a quick whistle or not."

Dallas scored four consecutive goals to defeat San Jose.

Brad Richards, who had a goal and three assists, tied the score at 2-2 just 32 seconds into the third period.

Richards then assisted on Mike Modano's go-ahead goal and two scores by Niklas Hagman.

The final goal was an empty-netter with 15 seconds remaining.

Mike Ribeiro had the Stars' other goal with a one-timer into the bottom corner of the net in the first period.

San Jose's scores came on a powerplay goal by Joe Pavelski in the first period and Milan Michalek's breakaway in the second.

Marty Turco made 29 saves for the victory.

Game 3 is in Dallas on Tuesday.

Agencies

(China Daily 04/29/2008 page24)