NEW YORK — Sidney Crosby got angry, and then the Pittsburgh Penguins got even in a big way against the division-leading New York Rangers.

Following a first-period skirmish with Ryan McDonagh, Crosby had two goals and an assist during a five-goal second period and the Penguins shut down the Rangers in a 6-1 rout on Wednesday night.

The Penguins held New York without a shot on goal over 23:59 spanning the second and third periods. Scott Wilson, Conor Sheary, Phil Kessel and Matt Cullen also scored for Pittsburgh, and Matt Murray had 16 saves.

The Penguins moved two points behind New York for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

“This is as good of a game as we’ve played all year,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

The Rangers won at Pittsburgh 5-2 on Monday behind a breakout second period, and the Penguins exacted revenge Wednesday in nearly the exact same fashion.

“We learned from (the last) game,” Crosby said.

Pittsburgh trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes, but then the defending Stanley Cup champions took control, chasing Henrik Lundqvist after four goals on 17 shots.

“It starts with scoring,” Sheary said. “I think we’ve been having chances and we’re putting the puck in the net the last few games. I think tonight we got a little puck luck. I think we earned our chances and you’re not going to lose much when you score six goals so that was good for us.”

Wilson got his third of the season 2:02 into the second to tie it. Stationed in front of Lundqvist, Wilson corralled a cross-ice pass from Kessel and fired a forehand shot.

Crosby put the Penguins ahead 2:56 later by redirecting Ian Cole’s point shot. Cole had intercepted Mats Zuccarello’s clearing attempt inside the blue line to start the counter attack.

Kessel increased Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-1 with a wrist shot over Lundqvist’s left shoulder at 10:12, and Crosby pushed the advantage to 4-1 2:45 later with his second of the game and NHL-leading 14th of the season. Crosby and Sheary broke in on a 2-on-1 with McDonagh defending, and Crosby’s attempted pass deflected off of McDonagh’s stick and fluttered over Lundqvist’s paddle.

“We gave them some chances,” Marc Staal said. “Just an avalanche we couldn’t stop.”

Following Crosby’s second goal, New York coach Alain Vigneault replaced Lundqvist with Antti Raanta.

The goaltending change didn’t work, as Sheary wristed his fourth goal of the season with 3:18 left. Cullen’s fourth of the season with 6:55 left in the third ended the scoring.

Pittsburgh may have been sparked by a first-period incident involving McDonagh, Sheary and Crosby.

Crosby dropped his gloves and challenged McDonagh after New York’s captain drove Sheary into the half wall.