Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Evgeni Malkin's power-play goal with 1:41 left in the third period was the game-winner as the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from a three-goal deficit to post a thrilling 5-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series from Mellon Arena.

New York's Martin Straka was whistled for interference with 3:20 to play in the contest, and the Penguins capitalized for the difference maker.

Ryan Whitney, stationed at the left point, dished across to Sidney Crosby for a one-timer at the bottom of the right circle. The puck ticked off Malkin's shin as he battled with a Rangers defenseman in front, changing course and sailing past Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist was pulled for an extra attacker with just under a minute to play, and the Rangers attacked aggressively. Jaromir Jagr's offering with 12 seconds remaining skittered off the left post, and the Penguins held on as the clock wound down for the victory.

Jarkko Ruutu, Pascal Dupuis, Marian Hossa and Petr Sykora also tallied for the Penguins, who have reeled off five straight postseason wins. Crosby added a pair of assists as did Ryan Malone.

Marc-Andre Fleury earned his fifth win of the playoffs despite making just 20-of-24 saves.

"We never quit, we still believed even though we were down by three goals," said Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien. "This is a great accomplishment from that young group. To be able to bounce back against a team like the Rangers, who are really, really committed defensively."

Straka, Chris Drury, Sean Avery and Scott Gomez hit the net for the Rangers, who dropped their first road game of the postseason.

Lundqvist took the loss by allowing five goals on 26 shots. Michal Rozsival notched three assists, while both Marc Staal and Jagr picked up two helpers each in defeat.

"There's a lot of things that have to happen after it (the puck) crosses the goal line," said Rangers coach Tom Renney. "The beauty of Henrik is he's a real battler. He'll leave this one where it belongs and be ready for Sunday."

Game 2 is slated for Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

With the Rangers on a power play, Straka's centering feed from the right side along the goal line changed direction in the crease and got past Fleury to give the visitors a 1-0 lead with 6:20 to play in the first.

The Rangers went up 2-0 less than two minutes into the second, as Drury used the shaft of his stick to alter the direction of Staal's left-point shot past a confused Fleury.

Avery then finished off a 2-on-1 break with a lethal wrister from the right wing at 3:37, and New York enjoyed a three-goal bulge.

Pittsburgh awoke offensively following the score, and got within 3-1 at 8:13 as a centering feed by Ruutu appeared to carom off bodies in front and in.

Only 14 seconds later, it was a one-goal contest. Crosby battled behind the net to the left of Lundqvist and dished into the circle, where Dupuis blasted the puck home.

Hossa's desperation feed from the right wing along the goal line deflected off Gomez's skate blade, changed direction and trickled through Lundqvist's pads, forging a 3-3 tie at the 4:40 mark of the third period.

Just 20 seconds later, the Pens assumed a 4-3 edge. Malone controlled the puck in the Ranger zone near the blue line and slid a pass to the right circle for Malkin. He skated in with a lone defender covering and dished across to Sykora for a slam-dunk tip from the right side.

However, Gomez reversed his misfortune with 9:56 left in regulation on a rocket blast from the left wing which tied the game.