Rangers vs. Penguins: Game 3 Live Score, Highlights for 2015 NHL Playoffs

The New York Rangers played nearly 50 minutes of perfect hockey before holding on for dear life in the closing seconds to take a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

New York takes a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.

Carl Hagelin got the Blueshirts on the board midway through the first period on a breakaway off a beautiful cross-ice feed from Keith Yandle.

The Penguins were caught in the middle of a line change, which left Marc-Andre Fleury marooned against the streaking Rangers forward, who buried the puck behind him to open the scoring.

Pittsburgh generated almost nothing offensively in the opening period, generating its first shot on goal over 14 minutes into the game and finishing the first 20 minutes with just three shots against Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

Chris Kreider doubled the Rangers lead just over 11 minutes into the third period, but credit for the goal largely belongs to defenseman Marc Staal.

Staal's bank pass of the boards behind Fleury landed perfectly on the tape of Kreider's stick in front for the trick-shot goal.

The Penguins began the third period flat, but the ice began to tilt midway through as the chances for Pittsburgh became more frequent. 

Patric Hornqvist cut the Rangers lead to 2-1 with just under seven minutes to play, but Lundqvist made the big stops necessary down the stretch to preserve the lead and the win.

Game 4 between the Rangers and Penguins will be back at the Consol Energy Center Wednesday night.