PITTSBURGH _ Eight days before the Feb. 25 trade deadline, Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes continued to do their part to raise the Rangers' asking price for them. The two free-agent-to-be forwards combined for three goals in the Rangers' 6-5 loss Sunday afternoon to the Penguins in Pittsburgh, with Zuccarello getting the first two for the Rangers. Hayes, who also had an assist, got one late to trigger a comeback attempt that fell just short.
Two goals each by Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang led the way for the Penguins, who took control of the game by scoring three goals in the third period after killing off a four-minute high sticking penalty to Sidney Crosby. Crosby's stick got up underneath the eye shield of Rangers defenseman Neal Pionk late in the second period. Pionk left the game and did not return "for precautionary reasons," Rangers coach David Quinn said.
Quinn said the Rangers' failure to take advantage of the extended power play was the turning point.
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