Rangers vs. Penguins: Game 3 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 NHL Playoffs

After conceding a game on their home ice, the New York Rangers looked reinvigorated Monday on the road.

The Blueshirts dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins for two periods and hung on for a 2-1 win at the Consol Energy Center to take a 2-1 lead in their opening-round NHL playoff series.

Bruce Beck of WNBC-TV in New York observed how Game 3 stuck with the trend of close, hard-fought showdowns between the two teams:

Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle helped set the tone early with a tremendous long pass to left winger Carl Hagelin, who beat Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with a sweet slap shot, allowing New York to draw first blood.

Stephanie Vail of Boston.com captured footage of Hagelin's goal, which came eight minutes and 43 seconds into the first period:

Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault remarked before the game that Yandle wasn't feeling his best after he missed the morning skate, which makes his huge contribution to the win all the more impressive.

"He just wasn't feeling well this morning," Vigneault said of Yandle, per the New York Daily News' Pat Leonard. "He'll be in the lineup tonight. He's just taking fluids, and he should be good to go."

At the 11:07 mark of the second period, the Rangers again lit the lamp on a play that was a little more predicated on luck than skill. Nevertheless, it was a savvy move by alternate captain Marc Staal.

After the Rangers avoided what could have become a dangerous Pittsburgh odd-man rush, the puck came to Staal near the Penguins' blue line. Instead of firing toward the net, where New York did an exceptional job of setting screens in front of Fleury, Staal opted to rifle a shot at the end boards.

The fortuitous ricochet went right to the stick of forward Chris Kreider on the doorstep. Even though Fleury drifted to the post and was in good position, Kreider still beat him on the short side to give the Blueshirts an insurance goal.

WTOL Toledo's Jason Hurst praised the play Staal made to set it up:

The Rangers' official Twitter account noted how prolific Kreider has been in the postseason throughout his early career:

However, Bob Pompeani of KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh alluded to the questionable circumstances surrounding both of New York's goals:

That extra goal by Kreider came in handy to say the least, as it turned out to be the eventual game-winner. Pittsburgh's offense was dormant for much of the game before coming alive in the third.

Patric Hornqvist pounced on a rebound that wandered away from star Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist and wrapped a wrist shot over his shoulder from close range with just 6:48 remaining.

Footage of the goal came courtesy of the Penguins' official Twitter account:

ESPN's Scott Burnside felt the Penguins didn't do enough to obstruct Lundqvist's vision in the game before then:

After conceding just one goal on 24 shots, Lundqvist was named the game's top star:

Consistency has been a big problem for Pittsburgh all season long. It's a primary reason the Penguins had to win their final game before this series just to qualify for the playoffs.

Although captain Sidney Crosby did have an assist on Monday's lone Penguins goal, he and fellow superstar center Evgeni Malkin have to implore their side to bring better intensity for 60 minutes of hockey.

It was critical for New York to regain momentum on Monday. Despite the unpredictability of this particular Pittsburgh team, there's no denying that it's an explosive bunch when it's clicking. The Presidents' Trophy winners proved they had plenty of fight amid Pittsburgh's late flurry for an equalizer.

At least the Penguins can take solace in the fact that they truly threatened New York late in Game 3. Now they need to carry over their far better third period to the next contest to even this entertaining series.