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Drury's goal denies Penguins chance to clinch division

Apr 1, 2008 - 3:25 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Chris Drury scored 1:46 into overtime, leading the New York Rangers to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday in the second game of a home-and-home series.

Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist while and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 21 shots for New York (41-27-11), which moved into tie with the New Jersey Devils (43-28-7) for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.

Max Talbot tallied for Pittsburgh, which was denied a shot at clinching its first Atlantic Division title in 10 years. Despite the loss, the Penguins moved two points ahead of Montreal (44-25-10) for the lead in the East.

"We know they are a tough team to play," Jagr said. "We played good defense tonight. It wasn't pretty but we'll take it. I think we were luckier. We got lucky breaks on both goals. I thought the first half we played pretty well defensively."

The Penguins (46-26-8), who posted a 3-1 win over the Rangers on Sunday, have a six-point cushion over idle New Jersey with two games left. The Devils have four games remaining.

Drury also had an assist to prevent the Penguins from wrapping up their first division title since 1997-98.

"Obviously we wanted the two points. We didn't come in here trying to get one," Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby said. "It was a tight game and could have gone either way. This is the kind of hockey we need to play from here on in. We had a lot of chances."

Talbot knotted the game at 1-1 at 10:03 of the third, but Drury ended it by blasting a a slap shot from the point past a screened goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for a power-play goal - his 24th of the season 1:46 into the extra session.

"It was a 4-on-3," Drury said. "Jags (Jagr) kind of rotated, and I think he made a good play by going to the net. As he went to the net, everyone went to him and I just popped out and got a good shot off."

"A bunch of guys were in front," Fleury said. "I saw Drury come in and I lost the puck."

Trailing, 1-0 in the third, Pittsburgh got the equalizer as Talbot tapped in a pass from Ryan Malone past Lundqvist on the left side of the crease at 10:03 of the third.

Malone skated down the right side and slipped a pass to Talbot through defenders, and the third-year veteran knocked it home for his 12th goal of the season.

"You have to shoot the puck, crash the net and everything will open up after that," Malone said. "Flower (Fleury) did a great job of keeping us in the game. We know we can play better, and we realized that midway through the game. They are a different team than the one we saw in Pittsburgh."

New York took a 1-0 lead in the first period, but not without some controversy.

Jagr appeared to score his 21st goal of the season on a 5-on-3 at 11:43 of the first, firing a backhander from inside the right faceoff circle that caromed in off the helmet of Fleury. The odd goal initially was disallowed, but the call was overturned after video review.

Fleury stopped 25 shots for Pittsburgh, which was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

Lundqvist made 20 of his 21 saves in the final two periods, including 11 in the third.

"It was an intense game in the second half for me," Lundqvist said. "We are tired right now. It was a good win for us. They are a good team, no question. We thought they were going to play simple, and once we scored one they obviously had to do something."