The Rangers sent the series back to MSG even at one with a 4-2 win Saturday. After a disappointing performance and loss Wednesday, New York was engaged physically throughout, notching 57 hits in the victory. Those who were called by the coach and needed to step up, did, while big shock (sarcasm dripping), Henrik Lundqvist was brilliant again.

New York came out a bit slow in the first, then got a break when Derek Stepan blocked Kris Letang's shot for a breakaway. Unlike Sidney Crosby, who converted his as he came in untouched on Antti Raanta in the first game, Stepan was stopped by Jeff Zatkoff, aided by a little hook on the attempt. New York kept up the pressure and the hitting, though Pittsburgh did have a few good chances, including one where Henrik Lundqvist made a big early stop on Letang from Evgeni Malkin, who returned to the lineup.

In the second, Pittsburgh converted on their second power play. The Rangers actually had a great chance shorthanded, but Eric Staal - who sure looks like he is playing hurt with a shoulder injury - made one too many dekes instead of shooting and Patric Hornqvist slid across the defensive zone kocking the puck off his stick before he could get it to Dan Boyle on a 2-on-1. As Carp noted, Letang gathered the loose puck and flung it ahead, the Penguins went tic-tac-toe, 3-against-2 with Boyle and Staal stuck up ice, and Phil Kessel scored “uncontested.” 1-0, Now you're thinking, here we go again but not so fast.

Two goals in 18 seconds, three in 4:14 and it was 3-1 Rangers. First, Keith Yandle tied it. Derick Brassard wins the draw, J.T. Miller picks up the puck, dishing it across the crease slightly off Rick Nash, who was battling Olli Maata in front. Yandle made a great read, sliding down from the point and he was able to put it past Zatkoff, who was able to get a piece of his shot, but not enough to stop it. Tie Game.

Then 18 seconds later, Miller put the puck wide-side off the boards. It took a hop over the stick of Maatta, who has struggled since returning, with Brassard grabbing the puck and beating Zatkoff far side. Steve Valiquette pointed out that Zatkoff dropped his right knee, which gave Brass a ton of space wide-side, which is where he likes to go and it was 2-1. Though, it required several minutes and angles for replay not to overturn it. Of course, most of you watching and following the game were thinking it would be overturned due to the Screw the Rangers button at NHL HQ. But, the ruling was that Brassard did have possession of the puck as he crossed the blue line, which was what was in question, so it was a good goal. Of course, the NHL is now becoming like the NFL where seemingly even score takes forever to be reviewed and you don't know what small, possibly insignificant aspect could cause it not to count. I am all for getting it right. But until the goalie interference call is figured out and applied consistently, these delays and overturned goals will draw more and more ire and scrutiny.

Bryan Rust took an interference penalty at 13:52. Pittsburgh killed it off and out of the box came Rust on a breakaway past Boyle and Brady Skjei. This might have been the key moment of the game. Lundqvist stood tall, Rust came in deep and tried to go top-shelf, but Lundqvist's glove was too fast and good, so it stayed 2-1 Rangers.

At 16:52, it became 3-1. Stepan forced the turnover and the puck went to Mats Zuccarello on the right side of the ice. Zucc put it across the ice to Miller, who faked, making Kessel go towards the point, then he went back cross-ice past three Penguins to Zuccarello, who blasted it high past Zatkoff. While the pass from Miller, his third straight primary assist, was brilliant, Zuccarello's ability to stop, control and then blast the puck might have been even more impressive.

It wouldn't be the Rangers, if they didn't take a silly penalty. This time it was Miller at 17:15 of the penalty. A big moment late in the frame, especially since Pitt won Game 1 thanks to goals towards the tail end of the first and second periods. The Rangers were able to kill this one off and went to the locker room up 3-1.

Starting the third, the question was would the Rangers come out in a shell of keep pressing. We got our answer. Chris Kreider came in 1-on-1 but lost the puck. Good pressure by Zucc and Brassard, forcing Trevor Daley to try and clear it quickly. Great read and anticipation by CK20, who blocked the puck and put it on net, where it changed direction off Daley and it was 4-1. as tweeted earlier, Kreider’s 19 playoff goals since 2011-12 are the most by an Eastern Conference player.

While on the power play, a pansification goalie interference call on Kreider, touching Zatkoff out of the blue paint gave Pitt a power play. Then Yandle got caught retaliating against Malkin, who should have gotten a call for cross-checking initially, and it was a 4-on-3. Faceoff win by Nick Bonino back to Letang, who gets it to Malkin back to Bonino, who dishes it backhanded to a wide-open Kessel and it's 4-2 with over 14 minutes to go,

Tick, tick, tick. Not fast enough but the clocked slowly trickled down. With less than nine minutes to go, Kevin Klein stuck up for Marc Staal against Chris Kunitz, who slashed him, resulting in the tiff, and received seven minutes of penalties while also getting tossed. AV shortened his D rotation, sitting Dylan McIlrath and going with four d-men. For the most part it worked, but not before three wide-open point blank shots late that fortunately were stopped. Rangers win 4-2.

A few thoughts:

The Rangers were credited with 57 hits, the most they’ve ever had in a regulation game since the stat’s been kept. As Carp noted, Klein 8, Brassard and Tanner Glass 7 each, Kreider and Mats Zuccarello 6 apiece.

How in god's name was the hit by Ben Lovejoy on Stepan not called a penalty? That's a classic boarding call. Heading towards the corner, shove in the back between the numbers with Stepan several feet from the boards. Thank god Stepan doesn't appear the worse for wear and hopefully no concussion.

AV challenged Brassard and Zucc to step up, separating the two. Brass had a goal and two assists. Zucc a goal. Mission accomplished.

Stepan was the Rangers best forward in Game 1. It was Miller in Game 2. Strong on and off the puck. Great passing. High panic threshold with the puck, willing to wait to the last second. Similar to what we saw last year against Tampa.

Lundqvist was huge, putting aside any concern about his eye and doubts that he would be able to rise to the occasion. As noted above, the stop he made on Letang and on Rust's breakaway, Add in his robbery of Hornqvist following another Malkin feed. Then, with the piece-de-resistances, he stopped Hornqvist, Conor Sheary and Matt Cullen in the final 30 seconds of the game from point blank range. New York's coverage was horrific there, but Hank had great positioning to make each save.

Skjei and McIlrath. Skjei played 19:02, including big minutes late and didn't looked flustered. No big mistakes and it's clear he needs to be in the lineup nightly. The future sure looks bright for him as he will have a regular role next season. McIlrath got off to a slow start, but ended up solid in the first and when he was in during the second. He may have had the defensive play of the game, tying up Tom Kuhnackl's stick with the net wide open to prevent a goal. He used his body effectively, though he wasn't as good in the third and sat most of the period. McIlrath struggles a bit with speed, but he brings a physical element and has a good shot from the point. With the NY having the final change Tuesday, AV could protect McIlrath.

Pittsburgh got Maatta back in Game 1 and Malkin in Game 2. Marc-Andre Fleury looks to be pretty close to returning from his concussion, so i would expect to see him in Game 3. Coach Mike Sullivan needs to determine where to play Malkin, as he didn't break up the Carl Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel line to start the game. Look for Malkin either on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Hornqvist or Sullivan could move Hagelin of Bonino down to third line and play Malkin at center or wing on the second line.

Ryan McDonagh sat again due to the fractured metacarpals in his hand. With two days off before Game 3, maybe he gets back in. Dan Girardi sat with an injury and it's unclear how healthy he is. Even if he is cleared, it's no guarantee that he dresses in Game 3. If McD is back, as I wrote Friday, go with McD-Klein, Skjei-Staal, Yandle-McIlrath, though I could see McD-Staal, Yandle-Boyle, Skjei-Klein or McD-Klein, Yandle-Staal, Skjei-Boyle

Big road win Saturday, Series even at one. MSG for Game 3 on Tuesday.