Christensen helps Rangers win to close out 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — What better tale as the calendar changes to a new year than a little redemption story?

For Erik Christensen, 26, a center claimed by the Rangers on waivers Dec. 2 in what he described as perhaps his last chance to stick in the NHL after stints with three other teams, 2010 brings some hope.

In an inspired performance, Christensen — moved to the first line with Marian Gaborik and Brandon Dubinsky — had a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the Hurricanes last night. It was a game that coach John Tortorella called “not do-or-die, but very important” after Wednesday’s 6-0 rout by the Flyers at the Garden.

Christensen’s first goal of the season tied the score on a five-on-three power play late in the first period, and he assisted on Dubinsky’s goal at 11:49 in the third to snap a 1-1 tie.
In his eighth game as a Ranger, Christensen logged a personal-high 20:27, had five shots and won 10 of 21 faceoffs.

“He played well both with the puck and without it,” Tortorella said. “When we lose a playmaker like Vinny Prospal  . . . this team has some straight-ahead forwards but lacks a little bit of playmaking in certain areas. Erik certainly stood in there and gave us that. We put him in all situations and on the power play and he was a pretty important guy for us.”

Christensen, who had bounced around on the third and fourth lines, learned about his opportunity about two hours before the game at RBC Center.

“The lineup wasn’t posted until we got to the rink,” he said. “I learned from past experience when I went from Pittsburgh to Atlanta, they put me with  Kovalchuk, and it was a big thrill but I ended up being tentative. I was trying to look for him all the time, not doing what I can do, and so with Gabby, who’s a world-class player, you have to go in and work with him, not just look for him all the time. You have to work as a unit.”

With Christensen in the pivot, Dubinsky was shifted to wing. “He tried to do too much in the middle against Philly, lost the puck, so we put him on the left wing because we wanted him to play more of a straight-ahead game,’’ Tortorella said. “He gets rewarded by hanging around the net and banging in the winning goal.”

Christensen almost scored earlier in the first but was called for a questionable goaltender interference. Dan Girardi’s point shot skittered past Cam Ward (33 saves) just before Christensen toppled onto him, and the officials waved off the goal.

“My heels were an inch or two from the crease. That’s my ice,” Christensen said. “He comes out and bumps me and he falls down. I deflected it in , then I fall over him, so the play’s dead. I didn’t think it was the right call, but I lived with it and I ended up scoring to get it back.”

A Carolina goal also was nullified after Brandon Sutter slammed Henrik Lundqvist against the post with 9:42 left in the second period as the puck bounced into the net.

“It felt like a key moment when they scored a second goal and they didn’t allow it,” said Lundqvist, who initially broke his stick on the ice in frustration. “It was definitely the right call, especially after the one on us.”

Lundqvist echoed Tortorella’s assessment of the turnaround. “This was one of our better games in the last couple weeks,’’ he said. “We talked about it in the morning and right before the game, about playing with emotions; you can talk all you want about how you want to play, but it all starts with emotion.”