Penguins Extend Winning Streak as Mantha and Acciari Power 6 to 5 Victory Over Rangers

PITTSBURGH -- A breaking update in the Metropolitan Division race unfolded Saturday night as the Pittsburgh Penguins extended their surge to six straight wins, holding off a late New York Rangers rally for a 6 to 5 victory at PPG Paints Arena.

Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari scored two goals apiece to lead Pittsburgh, which built an early cushion and then endured a frantic final stretch. Mantha and Acciari each beat Jonathan Quick twice in a span of just over three minutes in the opening period, setting the tone for a game Pittsburgh largely controlled before tightening late. Mantha added his second of the night early in the second period, tapping in a loose puck to make it 3 to 0.

The latest timeline swung heavily in the Penguins’ favor early in the third period. Acciari and Rickard Rakell scored 20 seconds apart to stretch the lead to 5 to 1 on a night when the franchise honored the 10 year anniversary of its 2016 Stanley Cup championship team.

Rakell’s goal also carried historical significance, as Erik Karlsson recorded the secondary assist to reach 700 career assists, becoming just the 12th defenseman in NHL history to reach that mark. Every other player in that group has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

New York responded with urgency, turning the final minutes into a test of resolve. Alex Lafreniere scored twice, while Vincent Trocheck, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle also found the net during a late rally that cut a four goal deficit to one. Despite the push, the Rangers could not complete the comeback, falling to 2 and 10 since losing goaltender Igor Shesterkin indefinitely to a lower body injury.

Stuart Skinner earned the win for Pittsburgh, improving to 8 and 1 in his last nine starts, though the near collapse underscored the fine margins the Penguins faced down the stretch. Jonathan Quick allowed six goals on the other end as New York struggled defensively for much of the night.

The impact of the result is significant in the standings. Pittsburgh moved into sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division, continuing a turnaround that has surprised much of the league. The Penguins achieved the result without veteran defenseman Kris Letang, who will miss at least one month after fracturing his left foot earlier in the week. Letang, a key member of the 2016 championship roster, was present in a protective boot during the pregame ceremony.

For New York, the outlook remains challenging. Head coach Mike Sullivan, who guided Pittsburgh to Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 before taking over the Rangers last summer, watched his team struggle to keep pace early before showing resilience late. The inability to start on time has become a recurring issue during Shesterkin’s absence.

What this means moving forward is clear for both clubs. The Penguins have positioned themselves firmly in the playoff picture with disciplined scoring depth and timely goaltending, while the Rangers face mounting pressure to stabilize defensively as the schedule compresses.

The next steps see New York off until Thursday night, when it hosts Carolina in its final game before the Olympic break. Pittsburgh returns to action Monday night at home against Ottawa.