2015 NHL playoff scores: Crosby, Penguins eliminated as Rangers advance

Another early playoff exit for Pittsburgh.

Apr 25, 2015, 1:00 PM UTC

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It's hard to believe that Sidney Crosby has been in the NHL for 10 years.

Ten years, and all the best player of his generation has to show for it is one Stanley Cup. After the New York Rangers defeated his Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 on Friday, Crosby will have to wait another year to try and secure ultimate playoff glory again.

Many assumed a player of his caliber would have multiple Cups by now, but if anything Crosby’s case is a terrific example of just how difficult it is to consistently work your way deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s not a one-man sport.

If it was, the St. Louis Blues would have swept their first round series against the Minnesota Wild. Winger Vladimir Tarasenko has quickly become the most lethal goal-scorer in playoff hockey, and yet his team faces an elimination game in Game 6 after another lackluster performance on Friday (one in which Tarasenko scored his sixth goal of the playoffs).

No, the Stanley Cup requires more than one talented player to claim it. So the Penguins will regroup, reshuffle and restock their team with more players to compliment Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. And they’ll try all over again. Because even the most gifted players have to struggle through the muck and grind to get to the promised land every year.

Scores

New York Rangers 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (OT) (NYR wins series, 4-1)

Ottawa Senators 5, Montreal Canadiens 1 (MTL leads series, 3-2)

Minnesota Wild 4, St. Louis Blues 1 (MIN leads series, 3-2)

3 things we learned

1. Craig Anderson continues his impressive run

The Senators played a good all-around game on Friday, but there’s no question that Anderson’s performance in net is the reason they’re still alive in these playoffs. Anderson stopped 45 of 46 shots against in Game 5, meaning he’s stopped 120 of 123 shots he’s faced in the series.

2. Vladimir Tarasenko is a playoffs monster

Tarasenko scored his sixth goal of the playoffs in Game 5, bringing his career total to 10 goals in 11 playoff games played. Minnesota has yet to figure out how to stop him, but luckily for them, Devan Dubnyk was rock solid in net and kept the rest of the Blues off the scoreboard.

3. Marc-Andre Fleury played one of the best games of his playoffs career

The Penguins may have been eliminated, but it wasn't for a lack of trying from Fleury. The veteran Penguins netminder was admirable in net, matching every great save by Henrik Lundqvist with two of his own. He was the lone silver lining in an otherwise mediocre series from Pittsburgh.