Rangers Watch: PIT 0, NYR 4

Welcome to New York, Scott Gomez. New York, meet Scott Gomez.

Gomez was on the ice for all four of the Rangers' goals (two off his own stick) in tonight's shutout victory over the Penguins. He has been the Blueshirts best player during what has been a very ugly December. After a slow start to the season, Gomez is now the team's leading scorer.

Chris Drury, New York's other pricey off-season free agent signing, earned his keep tonight as well with a goal and assist, both on the power play. This is the team GM Don Maloney put together on paper. Coach Tom Renney finally went back to plan A, with Gomez centering Czech-mates Jaromir Jagr and Marty Straka and Drury with Brendan Shanahan.

Marek Malik's turn back in the coaches' good graces was short lived. He found himself a healthy scratch [flu] again, with Marc Staal back with Michal Rosizval and Jason Strudwick dressed as the sixth D-man. Apparently, if Malik isn't paired with Rosival, he doesn't play at all. [I'll save this last comment for later.]

All said, this was a convincing win, the Rangers' first since defeating the slumping Senators on December 1st. New York needs to finish 2007 in the same fashion. For the time being, the boo birds are simply circling MSG, not quite ready to fly south for the winter.

Recaps: Y!/AP, TSN Broadband