Jagr keeps Rangers alive

NEW YORK -- Jaromir Jagr didn't get the chance to celebrate his goal because the New York Rangers captain was flattened just as he shot.

After a season-saving 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday night, no one could stop him from applauding the adoring Madison Square Garden crowd that wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Jagr, facing impending free agency, snapped a scoreless tie in the second period and sealed the win that forced a Game 5 with an empty-net goal.

New York is a major long shot to rally in the series and advance to the Eastern Conference finals, but Jagr and the Rangers showed they still have lots of fight left.

"We have to believe," Jagr said. "That's where you start everything. If you don't believe, you don't have a chance. You have to believe that anything is possible. Then you have to put the pieces together."

The Penguins, who lost for the first time in eight playoff games this year, will try again to finish off the Rangers in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Game 6 would be back in New York on Monday night.

Only two NHL teams have come back to win after trailing 3-0, and none have done it since the 1975 New York Islanders against Pittsburgh.

"We have to learn from our mistakes and we have to be strong in our building," Penguins forward Marian Hossa said. "It won't be easy, but we don't want to come back here."

Henrik Lundqvist, who twice allowed 5 goals to Pittsburgh in the series, was on top of his game -- his best moments coming against MVP finalist Evgeni Malkin. The second-year Penguins forward was denied by Lundqvist's right skate at the post in the first period and then on a penalty shot in the second.