Chris Kreider scores 45th goal, Rangers hold off Penguins

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The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins know where they are in the standings. They know a first-round playoff matchup seems almost inevitable.

In some ways, it feels as though it's already started. And the Rangers, at the moment, appear to have the upper hand.

Frank Vatrano and Braden Schneider scored less than five minutes apart in the second period, Chris Kreider added his 45th goal in the third and the Rangers moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

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New York Rangers' Chris Kreider (20) returns to the bench after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Igor Shesterskin made 22 saves, including a stop on Penguins forward Jake Guentzel in the final seconds to help New York beat Pittsburgh for the second time in five days, dropping the Penguins from second to third in the division.

"It was an intense game, but all the games are at this time of the year with where our team is in the standings," Kreider said. "The level of intensity is ramped up every single game as we get to the end here."

Five days after getting drilled at Madison Square Garden in a 5-1 loss, Pittsburgh responded with a far better effort but ultimately the same result.

Sidney Crosby scored his 25th goal and Brian Boyle got his ninth for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry stopped 23 shots but fell to 6-2 in his last eight starts, with both losses coming to New York.

"This is the type of hockey we’ve got to become accustomed to playing