Eric Staal could be an X-factor for the Rangers going forward

Eric Staal of the New York Rangers celebrates his first-period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, March 27, 2016. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaacNeil Best

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, then returned in 1985. His SportsWatch column debuted on Sept.

Give the Rangers credit for willing their way to a 4-2 victory over the Penguins Saturday in Game 2 of a first-round playoff series.

So that’s 1-1 where it counts. But the hockey cognoscenti largely is in agreement that the better team – non-goalie division – is the Pittsburghers.

There were times early in Game 2 the Penguins looked they might skate the Rangers out of the building, highlighted by a scary…