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Matchup of Staal brothers swings in Penguins’ favor

Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal scored on a play on which brother Marc was defending, helping his team go up 2-0.

Associated Press

Last update: April 28, 2008 - 12:25 AM

PITTSBURGH – Jordan Staal’s game-winning playoff goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins couldn’t have made his parents much happier. Or sadder.

Staal’s power-play goal in the second period broke a scoreless tie, and Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up, giving the Penguins a 2-0 victory Sunday over the New York Rangers and a home-ice sweep of the first two games of their second-round series.

Staal’s goal came with older brother Marc, a Rangers defenseman, on the ice and was all the offensive support Fleury needed while making 26 saves. Fleury helped the Penguins kill off two key Rangers power plays in the final six-plus minutes before Adam Hall scored into an empty net with 16.7 seconds remaining.

Games 3 and 4 will be Tuesday and Thursday nights at Madison Square Garden, where Pittsburgh is 0-3-1 this season.

Staal’s power-play goal at 13:55 of the second period came with the Rangers’ best penalty killer, Chris Drury, off for hooking. Evgeni Malkin gathered the puck in the left circle and, shedding Marc Staal, fed it down low to Jordan Staal, who shifted from his backhand to his forehand to lift the puck over goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

"He’s a great passer," Jordan Staal said. "I’m just glad to be the finisher."

The Staals’ parents, who have a sod farm in Thunder Bay, Ontario, decided not to attend the series because they knew one son would be disappointed when it ended.

Older brother Eric Staal of Carolina, a Stanley Cup winner two years ago, cut an NHL commercial in which he jokingly said the playoffs determine which son the Staals like best.

"That’s a good question," Jordan Staal said, smiling. "I know they’re cheering for a good game. This is tough for them, we know that, but it’s part of the game."