Pens fend off Rangers' late rally, notch 6th straight win

Field Level Media|published: Sat 31st January, 21:36 2026

NHL: New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 31, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Noel Acciari (55) moves the puck against pressure from New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière (13) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari had two goals apiece and the host Pittsburgh Penguins held on for a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Rickard Rakell had a goal and an assist and Ben Kindel also scored for the Penguins, who won their sixth straight. Blake Lizotte had two assists and Stuart Skinner made 15 saves.

Alexis Lafreniere had two goals and an assist, Vincent Trocheck added a goal and two assists and Vladislav Gabrikov had a goal and an assist. Will Cuylle also scored for the Rangers, who have lost six of their last seven. Jonathan Quick stopped 28 shots.

Lafreniere and Cuylle scored in the last 1:07 to make it close.

The Penguins took a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Mantha opened the scoring 2:37 into the game when a shot went in off his skate. Mantha stretched his point streak to four games (five goals, three assists).

Acciari scored at 6:05 when he ripped in a face-away one-timer from the left circle.

Mantha got his second goal with 7:01 left in the second period. He one-timed a backhand pass by Rakell into an open net.

Pittsburgh out-shot New York 10-2 in the middle period. The Rangers' first shot of the period did not come until 1:32 remained when Lafreniere put in a power-play goal.

The Penguins scored twice in 20 seconds early in the third period to make it 5-1.

Rakell connected on a power play 1:20 into the period and Acciari got his second goal at 1:40.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson got his 700th career assist on Rakell's goal. The power-play marker broke an 0-for-13 skid with the extra man for Pittsburgh.

Trocheck scored at 9:12 of the third.

Gavrikov pulled New York to within 5-3 with 4:45 left.

Kindel deposited an empty-net goal with 2:32 remaining for the Penguins. He has four goals and an assist in his last three games.

The Rangers' Noah Laba left midway through the first period with an upper-body injury.

The Penguins placed defenseman Kris Letang on injured reserve with a fractured foot before the game.

--Field Level Media

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