Rangers Finding Offense, Take On Ducks
(AP) -- The New York Rangers haven't won three straight in two months. They haven't lost on the road against the Anaheim Ducks in more than 10 years.
New York looks to continue its scoring surge Wednesday night in Anaheim as each team fights for a playoff spot in its respective conference.
Ryan Callahan scored a career-high four goals and added an assist Sunday in a 7-0 rout of Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia, giving the Rangers (35-29-4) their second straight victory after a three-game losing streak.
New York, which has outscored its last two opponents 11-1, hasn't won three in a row since Jan. 5-8.
"We haven't changed our style at all," said Callahan, who has 10 goals and six assists in 16 games since returning from a broken hand. "I believed that goals would come. We just didn't get the bounces. We stuck with it."
The seventh-place Rangers, two points ahead of Buffalo, welcomed back Marian Gaborik on Sunday after he missed the last seven games with a concussion. Gaborik has two goals and two assists in his last four games against Anaheim.
Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves against the Flyers for his NHL-leading ninth shutout. He's 2-1-0 with a 2.36 goals-against average versus the Ducks in his career, including a 3-1 win Dec. 16, 2008, in the last meeting in Anaheim.
The Rangers have won three straight at the Honda Center and haven't lost there since Dec. 15, 2000.
If the Ducks are to end that streak, they'll likely need to rediscover their scoring touch.
Anaheim (35-26-5) was shut out for the first time since Dec. 5 in a 3-0 loss to Vancouver on Sunday which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Ducks are ending a five-game homestand as they fight for one of the final playoff spots in the constantly fluctuating Western Conference standings.
Ryan Getzlaf fired a career high-tying 11 shots on net Sunday and was held pointless for only the second time in his last 11 games. He has 15 points during that stretch.
"We had opportunities to get back into this hockey game," Getzlaf told the team's official website. "We hit a few posts and a crossbar. That is the way things go some nights. We can't get too high or too low. We have to get going here for the next one."
Dan Ellis dropped to 3-1-1 with a 2.31 GAA since being acquired from Tampa Bay. Jonas Hiller missed his ninth straight game because of vertigo, and he's not expected to return against New York. Ellis is 1-1-1 with a 3.58 GAA against the Rangers in his career.
Saku Koivu (strained groin) missed his sixth straight game, and Jason Blake (cut on right hand) missed his second in a row. It's unclear if they'll return Wednesday.
New York has won three straight in the series, with Anaheim's last victory coming 4-1 on Feb. 7, 2008.
Updated March 8, 2011
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