The first game went about as well as can be expected. When the puck was dropped at PPG Paints Arena, it was all Rangers. They dominated the Penguins to easily win the season opener 6-0 on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

If it were a prize fight, the Pens trainer would’ve thrown in the towel. You wouldn’t have even known that they have one of the game’s all-time greatest players. That’s how easy it was for the Rangers. They made quick work of a flawed opponent that doesn’t look like a playoff team. Sidney Crosby can only do so much.

Before the game was even three minutes old, Jacob Trouba let go of a point shot that Sam Carrick redirected past Tristan Jarry for his first goal as a Ranger. Rookie Adam Edstrom was also parked in front. He played with Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski on the fourth line. Brodzinski picked up an assist on the goal.

A few shifts later, Will Cuylle thought he had his first. He took a nice pass from Kaapo Kakko and snapped a wrist shot from the right circle upstairs. However, the Penguins challenged for offside. In what looked like a very close call, the league ruled that the entry was offside to overturn the goal. It remained a one-goal game.

When the Pens did apply some pressure, they were stopped in their tracks by Igor Shesterkin. Making his first start in a contract year, he was sharp throughout. He made 10 saves in the first period. Shesterkin became the first Rangers goalie to pitch a shutout in a season opener since Gump Worsley in 1956.

With the Rangers still up one, Alexis Lafreniere scored his first of the season. After taking an Artemi Panarin outlet at center ice, he made a great one-on-one move to toe drag around and fire a laser past Jarry for a 2-0 lead.

Adding insult to injury, the Blueshirts struck again with a dozen seconds remaining in the period. Reilly Smith fed Trouba for a one-timer that Jarry couldn’t control. That allowed Chris Kreider to deposit the rebound for his first. That made it 3-0.

If there was any doubt, Filip Chytil erased it. At nearly the halfway mark, he took a Cuylle drop pass and fired home his first goal of the season. It was his first goal since Apr. 18, 2023. That came against the Devils in the first round that season. If it was an early indication, the third line looked good. Chytil had good chemistry with Cuylle and Kakko, who he knows well from the Kid Line days. That line will be a key to the season.

The best part is seeing the big smile on Chytil’s face. He plays the game with joy. His infectious personality can only rub off on teammates. Listening to Trouba who did a postgame interview with the NHL On TNT, they’re happy for him. Chytil has been through a lot. Hopefully, he can have the kind of season he’s always been capable of.

With Smith off for hooking Crosby, Kreider turned Kris Letang into a traffic cone. Catching the Pens veteran defenseman flat-footed, he stole the puck and broke in for a shorthanded goal.

It was the 10th shorthanded goal he’s scored since being put on the penalty kill in 2021-22. Give former coach Gerard Gallant credit for that. He saw something in Kreider to use him in a different role. Given his speed, it’s worked out extremely well. The next shorthanded goal he scores will tie him with Mika Zibanejad and Walt Tkaczuk for fifth on the all-time franchise list. We’ll see if Zibanejad can get one before his sidekick.

With the game winding down, Panarin found Lafreniere wide open in front for a point blank chance. After Jarry made the initial stop on him, Pittsburgh native Vincent Trocheck steered home the rebound for his first to put the finishing touches on the victory.

Shesterkin made a couple of strong stops to preserve a 29-save shutout. It was exactly the way you draw it up. The Rangers took care of an inferior opponent. It’s kind of sad what’s happened to the Pens. But they’re an aging roster.

The Rangers next will face the Utah Hockey Club in Saturday’s home opener. That one will air on MSG. The final season for Sam Rosen. He was named the recipient of the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Congrats to one of the good guys. Hopefully, it’ll be a memorable year.