Penguins Beat Rangers, NHL News

With one of their top players out for several weeks, the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to need some help to make the playoffs. Conor Sheary did his part on Sunday.

Sheary scored twice and Matt Cullen had the go-ahead goal in the third period and the short-handed Penguins beat the New York Rangers 5-3.

"He's a terrific kid," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "You can see his offensive instincts, you see his vision when he has the puck."

Pittsburgh entered the game in eighth place and in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 78 points.

The Penguins will be out with star Evgeni Malkin, who is out six to eight weeks after suffering an upper-body injury in Friday's win over Columbus. He is second on the team with 27 goals and 31 assists in 57 games.

"It's a good opportunity for a lot of guys to get some secondary scoring to get some more minutes when a top guy like that goes down." Sheary said. "Obviously, it's unfortunate for the team as whole, losing a player like that, but it's good for younger guys and guys who don't get that many minutes."

Sunday, March 13 Scoreboard

Pittsburgh 5, NY Rangers 3

Tampa Bay 4, Columbus 0

Toronto 1, Detroit 0

Monday, March 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

Florida at NY Islanders, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Chicago, 8 p.m.

St. Louis at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Nashville at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Winnipeg at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

New Jersey at Anaheim, 10 p.m.