This article originally appeared on PittsburghHockeyNOW.com.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had plenty of reasons to lose this game.

The goalie who had been penciled in to start for them ended up being too ill to play.

One of their third-pairing defensemen also was a late scratch because he was sick.

And, oh yeah, the New York Rangers are pretty good. One of the best teams in the NHL, actually.

Despite all of that, the Penguins (33-30-11) defeated the Rangers, 5-2, at Madison Square Garden Monday night

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