Brandon Dubinsky’s wrist shot in the first period tied the score at 1-1, but the tie didn’t last for long. The Penguins marched back to score three straight from Kennedy, Park and Malkin. Fedotenko and Boyle were both credited with an assist on Dubinksy’s goal and the Rangers lost to the Penguins 5-2.
Marian Gaborik point streak of six consecutive games ended Thursday night. He had scored six goals and four assists in his previous six games. Gaborik has exceeded the 40-goal mark twice now in three seasons for New York.
The Rangers had already clinched first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, but were trying to win the Presidents’ Trophy. The Rangers have previously won the coveted trophy twice in 1992 and 1994. They would have joined the Red Wings as the only NHL team to win it more than twice. The Rangers were tied with the Vancouver Canucks with 109 points going into Thursday’s game.
This was the sixth and final meeting between the two clubs on Thursday, the Rangers were looking to tie the series at an even 3 games. The Penguins end up taking the series this year 4-2-0.