Pittsburgh Penguins stand by 'solid' Louis Domingue, focusing on playing 'better' in Game 3 vs. New York Rangers

NEW YORK — Goalie Louis Domingue was the hero of the Pittsburgh Penguins' Game 1 win, stopping all 17 shots he faced after entering the game during the second overtime. But in Thursday night's Game 2, there were no storybook endings — just a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers, to even their Eastern Conference opening round series at 1-1.

Domingue gave up five goals on 40 shots. It was his first career playoff start, necessitated by injuries to regular-season starting goalie Tristan Jarry (broken foot) and Casey DeSmith, the team's Game 1 starter whom Domingue replaced in double-overtime after DeSmith left with a lower-body injury.

Penguins players and coach Mike Sullivan were quick to back Domingue, a 30-year-old NHL journeyman, after the game.

«I thought Louis was solid. I thought he made some big saves. He's giving us a chance. He's competing in there,» said Sullivan.

Domingue gave up the game's first goal at 6:50 of the first period to Rangers forward Andrew Copp, on a one-timer from the slot. He surrendered deflection goals by Ryan Strome and Chris Kreider in the second period. The Rangers' fourth goal was Domingue's most frustrating of the night, as Artemi Panarin deflected a shot off of Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson and behind Domingue. Frank Vatrano completed the scoring with a shot from the wing that beat Domingue after Vatrano fought through a Matheson check.

«That fourth one was a bad bounce, a couple of tips there,» said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. «I thought he was solid. I thought he made some big saves, especially when there was a one- or two-goal difference, that kept us in it.»

Defenseman Marcus Pettersson called Domingue's effort «awesome» after the game.

«Especially in that second period. He kept