Jagr, Lundqvist Keep Rangers In The Hunt

NEW YORK - Jaromir Jagr scored two goals and the New York Rangers staved off elimination Thursday night with a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jagr whipped a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury from the slot and then absorbed a high, heavy hit from Brooks Orpik that flattened the Rangers captain. He was assisted to the bench after a few anxious moments on the ice, but took his next shift as appreciative fans chanted his name.

The Penguins, who lost for the first time in eight playoff games this year, lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal 3-1. They will try again to finish off the Rangers in Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Only two NHL teams have come back to win after trailing 3-0, and none have done it since the 1975 New York Islanders against Pittsburgh.

Jagr's second-period goal broke a scoreless tie, and Henrik Lundqvist did the rest with a 29-save performance. Jagr's empty-net goal made it 3-0.

The Rangers beat the Penguins at home for the fifth time in six games this season.

Pittsburgh000-0N.Y. Rangers012-3 First Period-None. Penalties-M.Staal, NYR (goalie interference), 1:53; Hossa, Pit (holding), 6:32; M.Staal, NYR (slashing), 11:20.

Second Period-1, N.Y. Rangers, Jagr 4 (Dubinsky, Tyutin), 12:45. Penalties-Letang, Pit (holding), 5:18; Ruutu, Pit (holding), 15:08; Sykora, Pit (hooking), 19:14.

Third Period-2, N.Y. Rangers, Dubinsky 4 (Straka, Jagr), :44 (pp). 3, N.Y. Rangers, Jagr 5 (Shanahan, Drury), 19:46 (pp-en). Penalties-Gonchar, Pit (cross-checking), 8:20; Crosby, Pit (roughing), 13:32; Malkin, Pit (roughing), 13:32; Girardi, NYR (roughing), 13:32; Gomez, NYR (high-sticking), 15:50; Dupuis, Pit (high-sticking), 18:46; Malkin, Pit, misconduct, 19:46; Mara, NYR, minor-misconduct (roughing), 19:46; Ruutu, Pit, minor-misconduct (roughing), 20:00.

Missed Penalty Shot-Malkin, Pit, 17:53 second.

Shots on Goal-Pittsburgh 8-9-12-29. N.Y. Rangers 6-11-17-34. Power-play opportunities-Pittsburgh 0 of 4; N.Y. Rangers 2 of 7. Goalies-Pittsburgh, Fleury 7-1 (33 shots-31 saves). N.Y. Rangers, Lundqvist 5-4 (29-29). A-18,200 (18,200). T-2:34.