Rangers vs. Penguins: Game 2 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2016 NHL Playoffs

The New York Rangers roared back into their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-2 win at CONSOL Energy Center on Saturday in Game 2 to tie the Eastern Conference series at one game apiece.

After his coming-out party in which he stopped 35 of 37 shots in Game 1 in place of the injured Marc-Andre Fleury, Jeff Zatkoff came crashing back down to earth after a dreadful stretch from the end of the second period into the third where he allowed four goals on eight shots.

J.T. Miller was New York's star of the game with a trio of assists in the Rangers' offensive explosion. 

The loss, which can't be pinned entirely on Zatkoff, who made 24 saves, might create even more pressure for Fleury to get back into goal this series.

The Penguins did have a big name step back into the lineup on Saturday in center Evgeni Malkin, who made his return after missing 16 games with an upper-body injury, as the NHL showed:

For a player who's scored 27 goals in 57 games this season, Malkin's insertion into the lineup could have messed with the chemistry of things, as the Penguins were 14-2 without him. So head coach Mike Sullivan put him on the third line with Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust. 

The Rangers got some good news themselves when Henrik Lundqvist, who was forced to leave after the first period in Game 1 after taking a stick to the eye, was back in goal and back to his old ways, blocking 29 of 31 Pittsburgh shots.

Much like Game 1, New York was the more aggressive team to start, and a breakaway from Derek Stepan was the first real test for either goalie. But again, much like Game 1, Zatkoff was up to the challenge, denying the Ranger forward on a golden chance. 

Andrew Gross of the Record watched as Zatkoff further endeared himself to Penguin fans:

Not to be outdone, the ever-reliable Lundqvist was back to his usual self when the Penguins picked up the intensity in the second half of the first period. In the final minutes, which proved to be a problematic period of time for New York in Game 1, Lundqvist quelled a Pittsburgh attack that was sparked by a power play. 

NBC's John Chandler thought Lundqvist looked just fine after that injury scare:

Of the combined 17 shots between both teams, not a single puck could find its way past either goalie. 

The Rangers quickly took the 18th shot of the game just seconds into the second period when forward Rick Nash came in alone on Zatkoff. He tried to go to the backhand, but Zatkoff was once again up to the task.

Lundqvist was the first goalie to be beaten 3:21 into the second after a Mats Zuccarello penalty put the Penguins on the power play. 

In a transition led by Nick Bonino, the Penguins winger entered the Rangers zone down the left side and sent a cross-ice pass to Trevor Daly, who centered the pass beautifully to an on-rushing Phil Kessel, who had a wide-open net to finish off the play. 

NBC Sports showed the well-worked goal:

The Penguins seemed pretty pleased with Kessel's breakthrough:

New York, however, exuded their blue-collar style of play and simply began wearing Pittsburgh down with physical play, slowly tipping momentum in their favor. No other player embodied it more than Miller, who sparked New York's charge.

First, Miller drew a penalty on Brian Dumoulin, who was gassed after a hard-working Rangers shift kept the puck in the Pittsburgh zone. 

While the Rangers' power play came up empty, they tied the game less than two minutes after the man advantage ended through defenseman Keith Yandle with under eight minutes to play in the second. 

With bodies in front of Zatkoff's goal, Derick Brassard threw a puck toward the front of the net that went off of Miller and rolled to an uncovered Yandle, who finished in an open net, as the NHL showed:

Eighteen seconds later, Brassard became the goal scorer when a clearance by Miller hopped over the stick of Pittsburgh defenseman Olli Maatta and sent the forward in alone on Zatkoff. With one flick of the wrists, he beat Zatkoff to the blocker side, giving the Rangers their first lead of the series. 

The Penguins challenged if Brassard was offside, but the goal stood, as the NHL on NBC showed:

Barstool Sports' Charlie Wisco was generous in bestowing honors on the Rangers' goal scorers:

Up 2-1, Lundqvist came up big for the Rangers when Rust was sent in on a breakaway after coming out of the penalty box, via the NHL on NBC:

With the lead preserved, the Rangers built their cushion as Miller continued to play provider. He set up Zuccarello beautifully for New York's third goal of the game less than four minutes after Brassard's goal to build a two-goal advantage. 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Seth Rorabaugh tried to convey Pittsburgh fans' feelings after the tough period:

Those cries might have grown louder when the Penguins conceded a fourth goal just 39 seconds into the third period when a turnover presented Chris Kreider with a chance right in front of Zatkoff's goal, which he was able to finish. 

ESPN's John Buccigross saw this coming:

But flaring tempers brought Pittsburgh back into the game when penalties on Kreider and Yandle gave the Penguins a four-on-three advantage with 14:30 left in the game.

It took just 12 seconds for the Penguins to cash in, and it was Kessel again who was the benefactor of great puck movement. Bonino once again provided a helper for Kessel, who had another open net while stationed at the left post. 

Vice's Sean McIndoe pointed out that Kessel was proving his doubters wrong on Saturday:

Pittsburgh kept attacking, but Lundqvist kept the Penguins out of his goal as he continued to show why he is one of the game's best goaltenders.

This is a big split for the Rangers, who now have home-ice advantage with the series tied at one game apiece heading back to Madison Square Garden.

A convincing win like this in Pittsburgh could also do wonders for their confidence, most importantly on the defensive end, as New York is capable of creating a stout enough defense, headlined by Lundqvist, to suppress the Penguins enough to pull out wins. 

With things shifting to New York, a series that appeared it could be over in four of five games due to Lundqvist's initial eye injury, is now one that could easily go seven.

Post-Game Reaction

Given the platform, Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault solidified what is already a fact while speaking with the media after Saturday's Game 2 win, via Sean Hartnett of WFAN:

With his performance, Lundqvist dispelled any doubts that his eye would affect him. He spoke about his health after the game, via ESPN.com's Scott Burnside:

"

When you know there's nothing wrong with the eye, you know you can just go out there and just push yourself, and whatever is feeling uncomfortable, you don't really think about it when the game starts. You just want to be out there, and you're very determined.

"

It was difficult enough for the Penguins to beat such an accomplished goaltender, but captain Sidney Crosby also explained how it was difficult for the offense to get back into the swing of things with the return of Malkin, via Burnside:

"

I mean, I wouldn't say it's unsettling. You know when [Malkin is] out there and we're playing together, I think he takes up a lot of space and guys have to key on him, so there should be some space there for one of us. I think that with not playing for a month and a half, I'm sure being thrown onto the wing is going to be a little bit of an adjustment here and there -- and who knows how things are going to shake out.

"

The Penguins don't have much time to adjust as they only have a limited number of chances to gain momentum back in this series. 

If they can't click and find a way to beat Lundqvist, then the Rangers are going to be the ones emerging from this series.