Rangers Knock Sidney Crosby Out of the Game, Then Come Back to Win

But it was also clear from the first shift of the game that the Rangers were prepared to be more physical. Chris Kreider and Trouba were called for simultaneous penalties — Kreider for slashing and Trouba for elbowing, just 24 seconds in the game, and they seemed designed to set a tone. The Rangers safely killed off the 5-on-3 power play, and never looked like the soft, aimless group they had been in Game 4 in Pittsburgh.

“They were competitive as hell tonight,” Gallant beamed, “and that’s what we wanted from them.”

He was also pleased that Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers’ starting goalie, played much better in Game 5 than he had in the two previous games in Pittsburgh, when he allowed 10 goals in three periods.

Gallant spoke at roughly the same time Sullivan did, so he was not made aware of the Pittsburgh coach’s sentiments about the hit on Crosby. But there was no denying the impact of Crosby’s absence on the game.

“Obviously, he’s one of the best players in the world,” Gallant said. “They still had some good chances. They still created a lot. He’s a great player for them, and hopefully he’s OK.”

The quick burst of goals from the Rangers came within two minutes and six seconds of one another. Trouba’s strike, with just over two minutes left in the period, gave the Rangers the lead and caused the fans to roar so loudly, the press box bridge swayed high above the excitement.

“The building was unreal,” Lafrenière said. “Really loud tonight.”

But that lead did not last long as Jake Guentzel scored only 13 seconds later to even the tally, 3-3. It was his sixth goal of the series and his 33rd in 56 career playoff games.

The Rangers took the lead for good on Filip Chytil’s power-play goal three minutes into the third, his first postseason goal, and the team sealed the win on Ryan Lindgren’s empty-net goal, ensuring a Game 6.