Rangers turn it around, shutting out the Pens' 4-0

In a two game span, we saw the tale of two teams. Sunday evening against the Phoenix Coyotes, the Rangers were flat, and played poorly, and were embarrased. Tonight though, saw the Rangers completely shut down Sid the Kid, and the Pens. They held the Penguins to only 5 total shots through the first 40 minutes. The Rangers got 2 goals from Scott Gomez, and ones from Drury and Straka as well. We even got a point from Jaromir Jagr. Henrik Lundqvist returned to net and put on another great performance, stopping all 18 shots thrown his way. He earned his 6th shutout of the season. That ties Blue Jackets goalie Pascal LeClaire for the NHL lead.

It was an all around great performance by the team, and we seen the return of Ryan Hollweg. He was a healthy scratch last game. He came out flying. He recorded 4 hits alone in the 1st period. The lines were also shuffled around. No more Brandon Dubinsky on the first line with Straka and Jagr. Gomez centered that line and they combined for 3 goals and an assist. Chris Drury also added an assist to that goal he scored tonight. Gomez has recorded points in 10 of his last 11 games and the 6th straight game with a point.

"Sometimes you have to make changes. Sometimes you've got to mix things up. We're in the NHL. It doesn't matter who you play with," Gomez said following his first two-goal game with the Rangers. "We didn't try to almost overthink. We're a bunch of hockey players."

Returning to the system tonight, meant a well played game and doing so lead to a Rangers win. The problem is their inconsistency in staying in that routine of playing their style of hockey. Maybe the return of Sean Avery can level this all out, but until then, the Rangers have to stay withing themselves.

"These last eight or nine days haven't been glorious for us, and it's because we haven't been able to get that first goal," Rangers coach Tom Renney said. "When we play outside of our system and outside of ourselves, consequently we lose probably by more than we should."

Other game notes:

-Sidney Crosby was held to 2 shots in his 25 shifts tonight.
-The Rangers are 10-11-1 when outshooting opponents. They are 7-2-2 when being outshot.
-Sidney Crosby has only 1 goal in his last 9 games.
-Rangers lead the season series 3-1 so far over the Penguins.