Newbury, Bell called up from minors

Michal Hudec from Slovan Bratislava, second left, challenges goalkeeper Henrik... — Michal Hudec from Slovan Bratislava, second left, challenges goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist, left, Brendan Bell, second right, and Mike Rupp, right, from New York Rangers during their exhibition against Slovan Bratislava, in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Oct. 2, 2011) Credit: AP

By STEVE ZIPAYsteve.zipay@newsday.comOctober 16, 2011

Time to panic after going winless in three games? That would be an overreaction to a small sample.

But before the Rangers (0-1-2) left Sunday for a four-game trip to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, their longest of the season, they added two players from the minors, center Kris Newbury and defenseman Brendan Bell.

Newbury, a journeyman with snarl who had a very good training camp and was 4-4-8 in four games in the AHL, is expected to slide into the pivot on the fourth line. Bell, who played in the Swiss league last season, was reassigned while the Rangers were in Europe and was recalled as a seventh defenseman. Michael Sauer (right shoulder) did not practice with the team last week.

To make room, winger Mats Zuccarello, who played less than eight minutes in the Rangers' 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Saturday, was demoted. He didn't have to clear waivers to be assigned to the AHL.

With two points in three games, the Rangers are nestled in the bottom fifth of the NHL standings. And no wonder: They are playing one full period per game shorthanded. The Blueshirts lead the league in penalty minutes per game at 20.7. It is coach John Tortorella's biggest concern. Under the constant pressure, the penalty kill has allowed three goals in 19 chances, an 84.2 rate, which ranks 16th in the NHL.

The No. 1 line of Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik and Derek Stepan looked good in the loss to the Islanders, but the lower trios and third defensive pair didn't. The Rangers are averaging 1.67 goals per game, just above the league floor with Edmonton and Winnipeg. And the power play hasn't clicked. Even with Richards, the Rangers haven't scored in 12 chances. Only Anaheim and Winnipeg are worse at 0-for-13.

From 3,000 miles away, the crowd at Madison Square Garden may never look so appealing. But there's a long way to go before the home opener Oct. 27 against the Maple Leafs. If the Rangers don't steady the ship before then, the homecoming audience will be mighty grumpy.