It’s not just about shots on goal.
The Rangers recorded a season-low 19 shots in Monday’s 2-1 Garden loss to the Islanders, but that number isn’t necessarily what needs to improve.
“We only had eight scoring chances,” goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said after practice yesterday. “That’s not enough, especially at home. We need to create more scoring chances. Some games we had 30 shots but no [scoring] chances.”
The Rangers (12-8-0-1) will have an opportunity to improve in that area tonight when they travel to Tampa to play the Lightning (10-8-2-0), who have allowed the fourth-most goals per game in the Eastern Conference.
Lundqvist, who ranks third in the league with a 1.79 goals-against average and fifth with a .931 save percentage, said that a crowded net makes a goalie’s life tougher.
“We have to pay a higher price to get bigger scoring chances,” he said. “We have to get more guys in front of the net. … It’s not as often you’ll score from the blue line.”
Scoring from the blue line has been common for the Rangers of late. Their last five goals have been scored by defensemen. Michal Rozsival has led the assault from the outside with three goals in the last two games. His seven goals rank best among all NHL defensemen, and the 29-year-old has been playing the role of sniper more this season than in the past.
The offensive contribution by Rozsival and other defensemen has taken some of the burden off the forwards, who have struggled to score consistently even as the Rangers have won nine of their last 11 games.
“We’d like to think so,” coach Tom Renney said when asked if the offensive outburst by the blue-liners can open things up for the forwards. “Our hope is that it’s a five-man unit. Good puck movement opens up things [for everybody].”
Puck movement is what defenseman Dan Girardi believes has led to the defensive unit’s recent scoring run.
“The forwards are not doing anything wrong,” Girardi said. “They’re setting us up with chances. … [Rozsival’s] goals have been nice open shots.”
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Rozsival, who left the bench briefly during Monday’s game to be checked out by the trainer, was off yesterday to rest as a precaution. … Left wing Ryan Callahan (knee) and forward Martin Straka (finger) have been cleared for contact and are a couple of practices away from returning.
Rangers yesterday called up forward Greg Moore and defenseman Ivan Baranka from Hartford of the AHL and sent down left wing Nigel Dawes.
DUCKS RE-UP GETZLAF
The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks signed Ryan Getzlaf to a five-year extension worth $26.625 million that begins next season and runs through 2012-13.
The 22-year-old center with seven goals and 14 assists this seasonled the Ducks in scoring during the playoffs with seven goals and 10 assists.
RANGERS at LIGHTNINGTonight – 7:30 MSG2
WABC radio
(770 AM)