Erik Christensen Headlines Parade of Rangers Contributors Against Capitals

February 26 2011 Last updated at 10:10 AM ET

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Prior to Friday night's game against the Washington Capitals, some of the New York Rangers spoke of how "hungry" their young teammates were to be successful and make an impact on the ice. However, it was a not-so-young player that made a huge impression in the Rangers' 6-0 thrashing of the Washington Capitals, scoring and assisting twice en route to a career-best four-point night.

Twenty-seven-year-old center Erik Christensen, who was sidelined with a sprained MCL for 16 games in January and returned on Feb. 5, had not recorded a point in 11 consecutive contests for the Rangers. On Friday, he not only broke out of his slump, each of his linemates, Brian Boyle and Vinny Prospal, recorded a goal and an assist, as the line exploded for four of the team's six goals on the night.

"A big part of our team is getting contributions from different guys because we don't have our superstar (Marian Gaborik) in the lineup and we're not the real skilled team up front," said Christensen. "Getting different guys contributing every night is big for us to maintain our position in the standings."

The Blueshirts are three points ahead of Carolina for seventh place in the East and they trail the Capitals, who have one game in hand, by four points for fifth place.

Christensen finished as the game's second star and had a plus-3 rating. When he's at his best, he's a playmaking center with silky smooth hands and a quick wrist shot -- yet he often goes weeks without being noticed. Last season, he was the Rangers' best option to set-up Gaborik, recording 26 points in 49 games with New York. This year he's failed to generate offense with anyone on his line -- until Saturday.

"The past couple games he's been more assertive I guess," Tortorella said. "He's wanted the puck and he's gotten the puck. I know he's worked very hard away from the puck in order to get more ice time here."

For someone who has had a tough time being aggressive and stringing together consistent efforts on the ice, Christensen was very pleased with his performance.

"Well it's always great to contribute ? coming back from a knee injury, I've really been cold," Christensen said. "I've only really been scoring in shootouts. I just want to keep doing that ? going to the areas where I scored tonight right in front of the net ? those are the kind of areas the puck will come to you."

The Rangers also received goals from defenseman Steve Eminger, who returned to the lineup after being scratched in nine of the past ten games, and rookie center Derek Stepan. The balanced attack on offense ? along with standout contributions on defense from Ryan McDonagh, who filled in for Marc Staal as a top-pair defenseman, and Michael Sauer, who had an assist and an early fight that set the tone early, reveal just how versatile and resilient this team has become.

"The great part of this team is we have guys that stepped up during the year here when guys have been out of the lineup and it opened the door for other guys here to get more responsibility," Henrik Lundqvist said. "It's important that players accept more minutes and responsibility and see it as a great challenge."

Dan Girardi sees the team-wide scoring output as a stepping stone for these players as the season's final stretch nears.

"Guys are going to have confidence going into the last 19 games here, our push towards getting a good spot in the playoffs," Girardi said.

Despite the amount of injuries and reliance on young talent, the Rangers have managed to stay in the thick of things in the East because everyone is chipping in ? and Tortorella is encouraged by the progress.

"As we keep on grinding away here, the whole team continues to grow," Tortorella said.

pacland paragon sports pictures of basketball pictures of football