Penguins stage big rally to stun Rangers in opener

Pittsburgh Penguins (L-R) Jordan Staal (11),Tyler Kennedy (48) Ryan Malone, and Jarkko Ruutu celebrate the game-winning goal against the New York Rangers in the third period of Game 1 of their NHL Eastern Conference semi-final hockey game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 25, 2007. (REUTERS/David DeNoma)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from a three-goal deficit to stun the New York Rangers 5-4 on Evgeni Malkin's late strike in their Eastern Conference semi-final series opener on Friday.

In the day's other playoff game, Brenden Morrow's overtime goal earned the Dallas Stars a 3-2 road victory over the San Jose Sharks in their Western Conference semi-final series opener.

Malkin deflected a Sidney Crosby shot into the net on the powerplay with 1:41 remaining, giving the Pens a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game Two in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

"I was staying in the crease area with no energy at all," Malkin told reporters.

The goal came after a controversial call on New York's Martin Straka for interference after he collided with Crosby in the neutral zone.

The visiting Rangers eased to a 3-0 advantage before the Penguins scored four consecutive goals, taking the lead for the first time on Petr Sykora's tally five minutes into the third.

New York's Scott Gomez made it 4-4 halfway through the final frame before Malkin scored the late winner.

Straka, Chris Drury and Sean Avery scored the first three goals for the Rangers.

Jarkko Ruutu and Pascal Dupuis scored 14 seconds apart in the second period to haul the Penguins back into the contest after the hosts had looked off the pace following their first-round series sweep of the Ottawa Senators.

Pittsburgh's Marian Hossa tied the score at 3-3 4:40 into the third period before Sykora added the go-ahead goal 20 seconds later.

"That was a great effort," Crosby told reporters. "We don't want to put ourselves behind like that, but we didn't quit."

Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves for the victory while Henrik Lundqvist stopped 21 shots in defeat.

After a scoreless first period in San Jose, Milan Michalek opened the scoring for the hosts at 4:50 of the second.

Mike Modano collected Dallas' first goal just over a minute later on the powerplay shortly after a hooking penalty on San Jose's Devin Setoguchi.

Morrow put the Stars 2-1 up on a wrap-around pass from Mike Ribeiro 9:09 into the period before Jonathan Cheechoo scored with 3:02 remaining in regulation to force overtime.

(Additional reporting by Chris Merrill in San Jose, California)

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien and Peter Rutherford)