Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins edge New York Rangers in overtime thriller as backup goalie Louis Domingue delivers

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin scored 5:58 into the third overtime to defeat the New York Rangers 4-3 on Monday night in a wild Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoff opening-round series.

It was a contest that featured an all-time performance by Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and a stunning relief effort from the Penguins' goalie Louis Domingue.

Shesterkin made 79 saves for the Rangers, the second-most in a Stanley Cup Playoffs game ever. He was closing in on Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo's 2020 record of 85 saves against the Tampa Bay Lightning when Malkin tipped home a point shot from Penguins defenseman John Marino.

While Shesterkin was making his saves at one end, the Penguins had some goaltending drama in Game 1.

The game took an odd turn in the second overtime. Penguins starter Casey DeSmith walked off the ice through the Zamboni door 9:07 into the second extra session. Reports were it was a cramping issue. He had played exceptionally well, making 48 saves through that point.

Domingue, his backup goalie, came off the Penguins' bench and began warming up. Domingue is in his eighth NHL season. The 30-year-old journeyman was signed in Sept. 2021 by the Penguins as a free agent and appeared in just two games for Pittsburgh this season — the last time in a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on April 24.

DeSmith got the Game 1 start because Penguins starter Tristan Jarry was unavailable for the first two games of their series against the Rangers, at a minimum. Jarry last played on April 14 and then was sidelined with a broken foot.

Despite being ice cold, Domingue made 14 saves in the second overtime and then three more in the third overtime before Malkin won it.

According to the Rangers, it was the longest