PITTSBURGH — The drama of this first-round playoff series between the Rangers and Penguins started before Game 1 even began on Wednesday night at CONSOL Energy Center, when Pittsburgh’s third-string goalie Jeff Zatkoff led his team onto the ice and then played well in his team’s 5-2 win.
Regular Penguins starter Marc-Andre Fleury was looking like he would make his return from a concussion — his second this season — when he practiced on Monday and Tuesday and even took the morning skate before the game. Yet it was Zatkoff who got the start, made 35 saves on 37 shots and looked rock solid as Fleury’s status remains up in the air.