Dubinsky learns how to become a pro

TAMPA, Fla. - Brandon Dubinsky, who needed to learn to be a pro, according to Rangers coach John Tortorella last season, is on his way.

After scoring 44 points last season, Dubinsky leads the team in points with 32 (16 goals, 16 assists) and power-play points (nine), but his improvement in his fourth full NHL season goes beyond the numbers.

"Just from our conversations, he's maturing," Tortorella said of the 24-year-old, on pace for his most productive season. "He's trying to take a leadership role with the young guys on the club and certainly in his play - as far as how he prepares himself, keeping it a flat line, not getting too big when things go well and not get too low when things aren't going well - he's beginning to understand that."

Dubinsky, a center-turned-left wing to take advantage of his north-south game, certainly fits in with the team's style.

"We started from Day 1 asking ourselves, 'What are we gonna be as a team?' '' Tortorella said. "We wanted to grind, puck pursue, play underneath the hashmarks and manufacture goals if we need to. Now that we're at the halfway mark, basically, I think the guys have a good feeling of who they are."

Blue notes

D Michael Del Zotto was scratched for the fourth straight game. Matt Gilroy again started in his place . . . G Martin Biron is expected to start today's game (5 p.m. start) against the Panthers in Sunrise . . . The Rangers are 9-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs and sported the league's best road record (13-6-0) before last night . . . With eight shorthanded goals, the Rangers lead the league, but Tampa Bay's power play is No. 2 in the NHL at home . . . Rookie goaltender Cedric Desjardins, who made 27 saves in a win over the Canadiens in his NHL debut, made his second consecutive start.