NEW YORK, April 9 (UPI) -- Rookie Dan Blackburn stopped 26 shots for an historic fifth straight win and Pavel Bure scored twice Monday night as the New York Rangers held on for a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Still just 18, Blackburn became the third teen in NHL history to record five straight wins, joining Allan Bester and Tom Barrasso.
One night after the Rangers were eliminated from post-season contention for the fifth year in a row, Bure opened the scoring with the Rangers on the power play 3:22 into the second period. He took a pass in front from defenseman Tom Poti and flipped the puck past goaltender Johan Hedberg for his 32nd goal.
With 5:01 left in the third period, Bure got a pass from Martin Rucinsky in the left faceoff circle, moved right and beat Hedberg with a backhander for his 11th goal in 10 games with the Rangers. Bure was acquired from Florida on March 18.
Rucinsky, who was obtained from Dallas on March 12, has six assists in his last nine games.
Jan Hrdina and defenseman Andrew Ference scored for the Penguins, who have just two wins in their last 14 games (2-10-1-1).
Hrdina scored his 24th goal 5:24 into the second when he took a pass in front of Blackburn and wristed the puck into the net.
Ference's goal also came on the power play with 22 seconds left in the contest as he beat Blackburn from the slot for his fourth of the season.
Hedberg stopped 18 shots but has lost his last five decisions.