Brandon Dubinsky trying to snap out of slump

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- To snap his scoring drought, Brandon Dubinsky hasn't yet turned to watching video of last season's 24 goals.

"I'm not that superstitious, but I've definitely given it some thought," said Dubinsky, who had 10 goals through 14 games in 2010-11 but has none in 14 games this season for the Rangers, who have scored 37 goals (ranked 16th in the league entering Thursday night at 2.64 goals per game).

Dubinsky, 25, who signed a four-year, $16.8-million contract last summer, Thursday admitted he was pressing and called it the most frustrating stretch of his career.

"I think so. I'm only human," said Dubinsky, who has no points in the last four games. "It's been tough mentally not getting those points and not contributing offensively on a consistent basis. That being said, I think I've matured as a player and a professional. I've got to try and continue focusing on the other parts of my game."

Dubinsky has six assists and an even plus/minus rating. "It's not like my game is completely in the toilet and I'm turning pucks over and I'm on the ice for a lot of goals against,'' he said, "so I've just got to stay confident and believe in myself."

The Rangers have only one line clicking, the Artem Anisimov-Derek Stepan-Marian Gaborik trio. In Ottawa, Dubinsky was shuffled in among third-liners Brian Boyle and Ruslan Fedotenko. He had two shots on goal, and recorded four hits.

"Those guys are good puck possession-type guys; they kind of play my style," he said. "If I'm with those guys [tonight against Carolina], hopefully it'll give me an opportunity to get open and let them do some of the grinding underneath the hash marks and try to find me in scoring position. They're capable of making great plays and scoring goals, too."

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Despite his slump, the Rangers are 8-3-3, compared to a 7-6-1 start last season, and have won five straight.

"It would definitely feel a lot worse if we weren't winning," Dubinsky said. "It's not a matter of work ethic, it's about trying to get a bounce, try to get something lucky to happen for me, have one go in off my butt or something like that. Hopefully that will relieve some of the pressure because sometimes, when you're fighting a little bit, you over-try, you over-squeeze."

Notes & quotes: Expect the same lineup Friday night for the Rangers against the Hurricanes (5-7-3) . . . D Anton Stralman said "it would be hard" to play after one practice . . . Henrik Lundqvist, Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards and the sidelined Marc Staal are among 127 players on the NHL All-Star ballot for fan voting, which concludes Jan. 4.