Rangers write off Pens in overtime, advance in East

Hagelin’s goal settles 4-1 series win by New York

NEW YORK — It wasn’t easy, but it was quick, a rarity for the New York Rangers in recent years.

Carl Hagelin scored the series-clinching goal 10:52 into overtime to give the Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the teams’ Eastern Conference first-round playoff series Friday.

New York gained all four its wins in the series by one goal and captured a series in fewer than six games for the first time since 2008, a span of 14 series.

“The rest is definitely beneficial,” Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS “It’s not something our group is used to, but it’s definitely a nice change of pace.”

In the second round, the Rangers will face the winner of the series between the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders. The Capitals lead 3-2, with Game 6 today at Uniondale, N.Y. “Pick your poison there,” Staal said. Both goaltenders played exceptionally well. The Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 36 of 37 shots, while the Penguins’ Marc-Andre Fleury — who had his best playoffs since 2008 — was the loser despite making 34 saves.

Hagelin’s goal developed after some strong work in the corner by Rangers center Dominic Moore. He was able to get the puck to Hagelin, who skated from behind the goal line to the front of the net and beat Fleury with a wrist shot to the glove side.

“I didn’t do much that shift until I saw Dom was in trouble behind the net,” Hagelin said. “I went behind there to pick up the puck, then I just skated around the circle and took a shot and somehow it went in.”

The Penguins had a chance to win every game in this series but fell short in most cases because Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin consistently were held off the scoresheet. Crosby had two goals in the series, both in Pittsburgh’s Game 2 victory, while Malkin had no points.

The Penguins also were without key players on defense, as Kris Letang and Christian Ehrhoff both suffered late-season injuries that kept them out of the series. It all conspired to send Pittsburgh home before the second round for the first time since 2012.

■ Senators 5, Canadiens 1 — At Montreal, the Canadiens wasted a chance to clinch at home, falling behind 3-0 during the second period, and the Senators forced Game 6 Sunday at Ottawa.

Bobby Ryan scored twice to lead the Senators. Ryan and Patrick Wiercioch scored in the first period and Erik Karlsson late in the second, while Craig Anderson made 45 saves for Ottawa.

Montreal, holding a 3-2 lead in the series, got a third-period goal by Tom Gilbert. Carey Price stopped 20 shots.

■ Wild 4, Blues 1 — At St. Louis, Devan Dubnyk stopped 36 shots, including all 19 in the third period, and Minnesota won on the road to grab a 3-2 lead over St. Louis in the teams’ Western Conference quarterfinal.

The Wild can clinch the series at home Sunday, when the Blues will be trying to prevent their third consecutive firstround playoff exit.

Dubnyk came back strong 48 hours after being pulled in a 6-1 loss in Game 4. He had allowed all six goals on 17 shots.

St. Louis goalie Jake Allen, brilliantly in the first four games, allowed four goals on just 19 shots Friday.