The Blueshirts remained five points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will close out their pre-break schedule Saturday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.

This was a game the New York Rangers had to win. They were playing the Pittsburgh Penguins, a Metropolitan Division rival below them in the standings that was without its two best forwards, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin,

The New York Rangers suffered a gut-wrenching 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. Without both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Rangers were still outplayed by the Penguins through two periods.