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Jeff Zatkoff shines in playoff debut, Penguins beat Rangers in Game 1

Thursday, 04.14.2016 / 12:55 AM / News

The Canadian Press

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Jeff Zatkoff shines in playoff debut, Penguins beat Rangers in Game 1

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Jeff Zatkoff knew he'd be starting his first ever NHL playoff game well before even his teammates or seemingly anyone in Pittsburgh.

Zatkoff made 35 saves as the Penguins beat the New York Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of their first round playoff series. The Detroit native stood in brilliantly for usual No. 1 Marc-Andre Fleury in a game that also saw Rangers first stringer Henrik Lundqvist lost to injury.

"He was probably our best player," Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist said of Zatkoff.

Hornqvist also excelled in the Penguins victory, scoring his first career playoff hat trick which helped give Pittsburgh an early 1-0 series lead.

Pittsburgh's third-string goaltender found out he was playing Game 1 after a text message from Fleury on Tuesday night. That's well before Zatkoff's teammates, who were informed about two hours before game time and well before the Rangers. New York prepared for the game as if Fleury would be starting.

The Penguins purposefully pushed that theory forward with Fleury occupying the starter's net at Wednesday's morning skate. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan played coy about the status of his injured goaltender, who has been absent since the end of March with a concussion.

"We didn't want to reveal who we were going to play and give our opponents an opportunity to prepare for them," Sullivan said.

Fleury's availability was made more urgent by the absence of backup Matt Murray, who was injured in the final game of the regular season and unavailable to play.

Zatkoff excelled in just his 30th career NHL start.

A Los Angeles Kings third round draft pick from 2006, Zatkoff's best work came early. He was the difference in a first period that was mostly controlled by the visiting Rangers. New York had 12 of the first 15 shots, turned aside at every point by the Penguins goalie.

Zatkoff rarely seemed fazed by the moment of his somewhat surprising appearance. There was a quick right pad stop on J.T. Miller less than three minutes in and an even better blocker save on Jimmy Hayes moments after that. The New York forward pounced on a rebound opportunity from inside the right faceoff circle.

"It's not an easy situation to come into," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who had a goal and two assists. "We kind of had a slow start, (the Rangers) tested him a lot early and he made some big saves."

Zatkoff said the early work gave him an opportunity to quickly settle into the game. The nerves one would expect of someone in his position dissipated, he added, right after puck-drop.

Wednesday's appearance was only the sixth in the last 4 1/2 months for Zatkoff. Zatkoff's last start prior to Game 1 came on Feb. 20 with his last victory coming on Feb. 6.

He managed to stay sharp without playing time by working daily with Pittsburgh goalie coach Mike Bales. A relief in the Penguins regular season finale after Murray went down also helped.

"It's funny how this game works because you never know when opportunity might present itself," Sullivan said. "And (Zatkoff) is the kind of guy that made sure he prepares himself so if and when that opportunity presents itself he can be at his best and I think that's what we saw tonight."

Hornqvist got his first of the night with 18 seconds remaining in the first period. The 29-year-old former Nashville Predator slipped a rebound attempt through the pads of Lundqvist.

The Rangers goaltender was rocked by a scary incident only 30 seconds earlier, one that would eventually force him from the game. Lundqvist was struck near the eye by the blade of teammate Marc Staal's stick as the defender wrestled for position in front of the New York net, with the blade finding a hole in the goaltender's mask.

Lundqvist crumpled to the ice in an obvious fright.

He remained in the game after a brief consultation with team doctors, surrendered the goal to Hornqvist and then didn't return for the second period. Antti Raanta came on in relief.

Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault had little to say on his status for Game 2, which takes place on Saturday afternoon.

"He'll be re-evaluated (Thursday)," Vigneault said. "I'll have more news (Thursday)."

The Penguins got three past Raanta over the final two periods, including a breakaway goal from Crosby, the second and third of the night from Hornqvist, and a short-handed goal from 23-year-old Tom Kuhnhackl, a German native who was playing his first ever playoff game.

Kuhnhackl's goal gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead after the Rangers cut a 2-0 deficit in half with the first of two goals on the evening by Derek Stepan.

"There a few things that I think we can build on, but I do know that we've got quite a few guys that need to play better than they did, that's obvious," Vigneault said. "We're going to need to play better as a team."

Vigneault didn't think his team sunk in Lundqvist's absence. Likewise, the Penguins didn't change their approach when Raanta came in for his first playoff appearance, Hornqvist said.

Like the Rangers No. 1, Fleury's status for Game 2 remains in question as Sullivan declined to say if Fleury was available to play.

"When we decide to put Marc-Andre in the game we'll let you know," he said.

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