Scott Gomez has been through this before, and he understands he needs to shoot the puck more if his line is to become the consistent scoring threat the Rangers need.
“I’m trying to get the puck to my wings too much,” the center said after yesterday’s practice. “I’ve got to shoot to open up things for [right-winger Brendan] Shanahan. He’s getting his shots, but not the kind of shots that I want him to get.”
Gomez said that he went through similar periods while with the Devils, that he would forget about shooting and look to set up one winger while ignoring others on the ice.
“It’s my job to get them the puck,” Gomez said. “But if I’m passing too much it puts [the wingers] in bad positions.”
Gomez is averaging 2.55 shots per game this season compared to the 3.44 he averaged last season with the Devils. His failure to pull the trigger could be one of the reasons his power-play unit has struggled mightily.
“We’re all so unselfish that we don’t shoot,” said Gomez, who refuted the idea that he’s still learning how to play with his new teammates. “We’re trying to be a little too cute sometimes.”
Gomez said that the Rangers (13-9-0-2, tied for first in Atlantic Division) are not desperate to improve power-play production because they are winning games.
“We do everything right but score,” Gomez said. “But we’re still in a pretty good position. It’d be different if we were in last place. We’re still winning games.”
Actually, the Rangers have lost three of their last four while scoring just eight goals to drop their average to 2.20 per game. While there is plenty of blame to go around for that lousy number, Gomez’s share is significant due to his role as an offensive catalyst.
Even while the Rangers were winning nine of their 10 games between Oct. 29 and Nov. 17, it was not the star-studded offense that led the way but the unheralded defense. And, of course, the splendid goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist.
“We have the best goaltender in the league,” coach Tom Renney said of Lundqvist, who is second in the NHL in goals-against average (1.81), wins (12) and shutouts (4), and third in save percentage (.931). “And our defensemen are underrated, so that serves as motivation for them.”
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Shanahan (back) did not practice yesterday but is expected to play tomorrow against the Islanders at the Garden. Forward Sean Avery (hand) had a CAT scan and was awaiting the results. Forward Ryan Callahan (knee) is ready to return, but the Rangers have not decided if he will do a conditioning stint with Hartford. Defenseman Marek Malik (back) also is eligible to return.