Penguins extend winning streak to six games with high-scoring victory against Rangers

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 31, 2026

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — On a day when the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrated their 2016 Stanley Cup title, the spotlight was on Sidney Crosby, Mike Sullivan and the other big names from that championship squad.

But it quickly became the Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari show.

The two veteran wingers scored twice apiece to help the Penguins beat the New York Rangers, 6-5, Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh has now won six straight games.

Mantha is now second on the team with 19 goals after scoring five times in the past four games. Acciari and the fourth line continued a torrid stretch, as well, after Connor Dewar had two goals Thursday against Chicago.

Although the Penguins largely carried play and outshot the Rangers 35-20 (unofficially) they had to fight through the final minutes with the game still in doubt after Vincent Trocheck scored short-handed and Vladislav Gavrikov rifled home a slap shot in the third period to bring the Rangers within two.

But Ben Kindel pushed his goal streak to three games with an empty-netter to give the Penguins breathing room again. Goalie Stuart Skinner was credited with an assist on the play. He didn’t have his best performance, saving 15 of 20 shots, but won his fifth straight start.

A Penguins team that has consistently drawn first blood under coach Dan Muse did it again Saturday.

Mantha deflected in a shot from Rutger McGroarty — who was excellent throughout the game — to give the Penguins a lead 2:37 into the game.

Mantha added another in the second period, poking in a rebound on an open net after Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick had to dive out of the crease to deny a Rickard Rakell attempt.

And the Penguins’ fourth line just kept dominating its shifts and getting rewarded for it. Less than four minutes after Mantha’s opener, Acciari fired home a one-timer off a beautiful feed from Blake Lizotte. Dewar also picked up an assist.

Lizotte assisted Acciari’s second of the game, too, shooting from close range before Acciari pounced on the rebound.

Rakell briefly broke up the Mantha-Acciari goalfest when he scored on a third-period power play. It was yet another example of the Penguins hanging around the net and capitalizing on a rebound opportunity, this time generated by a Crosby shot. Erik Karlsson’s assist on the play was the 700th of his career.

The Rangers briefly made it interesting late in the third period. Alexis Lafreniere scored seconds into a 4-on-3 power play after the Penguins were whistled for too many men on the ice in the final minutes of the second period. That goal made it 3-1 — but a New York penalty as time expired in the period ultimately resulted in Rakell’s goal.

Lafreniere picked up his second goal of the game with about a minute to play. Will Cuylle then scored with about 11 seconds remaining to bring the Rangers within one, but the Penguins survived the anxious final moments.

It was over when …

Kindel scored on an empty net for his fourth goal in the past three games.

Stat of the game

5: The number of different Penguins with multiple points in the game — Dewar, Mantha, Lizotte, Acciari and Rakell.

Around the boards

— Defenseman Kris Letang is expected to be out at least four weeks with a fractured foot, the Penguins announced Saturday. Connor Clifton returned to the lineup in Letang’s absence.

— Muse designated Evgeni Malkin as a game-time decision Saturday. He played well, again driving offensive chances for his second line.

— Karlsson became the 12th defenseman in NHL history to reach the 700-assist mark.

— The Penguins celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their 2016 Stanley Cup triumph before the game Saturday with several members of that team in attendance, in addition to the players on the current roster who helped hoist that Cup — and the Rangers’ Mike Sullivan and Conor Sheary.

Crosby teared up as the team played a video of key moments from that run.

Up next

The Penguins conclude a three-game homestand at 7 p.m. ET Monday against the Ottawa Senators. They will then play two road games — at the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres — before the three-week Olympic break.

____