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Rangers stay hot with win over Penguins

Jan 7, 2012 - 4:47 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Henrik Lundqvist posted 37 saves as the red- hot New York Rangers took a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at CONSOL Energy Center.

Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist while Brad Richards and Derek Stepan each scored a goal for the NHL-leading Rangers, who have won four straight and nine of their last 10.

With 56 points, the Rangers sit atop the Eastern Conference and the NHL, three more than conference opponent Boston and three more than Western Conference- leading Vancouver.

"He's outstanding for us and is a big reason we are where we are right now," said New York head coach John Tortorella about Lundqvist.

Ben Lovejoy scored the lone goal of the game for the Penguins, who have lost their past three games. Marc-Andre Fleury gave up all three goals on 21 shots in the loss.

"Right now we have to be better in every aspect of the game," said Lovejoy. "We're playing mediocre hockey and that's never going to get it done."

The first goal of the game went to Pittsburgh as Craig Adams sent a pass from the left boards to the slot where a trailing Lovejoy wristed it between the pads of Lundqvist 5:43 in.

The Rangers, though, tied the game with 1:43 left in the first as a bad-angle shot from Dubinsky at the left side saw the puck go out front and Richards buried for his 15th of the season.

Skating shorthanded, the Rangers took a 2-1 lead 3:09 into the second as a 3- on-1 break went the other way. Ryan Callahan took the puck in down the right wing, cut to the middle to get around a sliding defender and dished it to the left where Dubinsky slammed it home.

New York got a lucky break 1:20 into the third to get an insurance goal. Pittsburgh held the puck in the New York end, but a pass to the left point got past the player there and went all the way down the other way.

Along the boards near the right circle, Fleury attempted to play the puck over to a defender, but the puck trickled off his stick and Marian Gaborik was able to grab it. Gaborik's shot rang off the post, but a blind clearing attempt from a Pittsburgh player wound up on the stick of Stepan and he buried it.

Pittsburgh appeared to make it a one-goal game with just under nine minutes to play as James Neal's wrister found the back of the net, but the goal was waived off as Chris Kunitz was interfering with Lundqvist.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal left with around five minutes to play after colliding with New York center Mike Rupp. He had to be helped off the ice by teammates...The Penguins host the Devils on Saturday...The Rangers host Phoenix on Tuesday...New York has won four straight against Pittsburgh, including both matchups this season.