Rangers can't stop talented Red Wings

DETROIT - At the halfway point of the preseason, the assessment is simple: The Rangers are searching to find parts that fit, and the experienced Red Wings are rolling on all cylinders.

"We have to figure out who we are in the middle of the ice, who we are in the back end," coach John Tortorella said after the Wings skated around and past the Rangers in a 5-3 win last night, outshooting the visitors 34-21. "It was a struggle, not just our defensemen, but all and all in our end zone. All this circling . . . you have to stop and start in the end zone, that team over there, you circle, they expose you. And they had the middle of the ice on us all night long."

On the night before the coaching staff makes some more roster cuts, the Rangers dressed several players who are on the bubble, including defensemen Michael Sauer, Pavel Valentenko, Ryan McDonagh and Alexei Semenov.

The Red Wings countered with experience and talent - Brian Rafalski (goal, three assists), Nicklas Lidstrom, Brad Stuart and Niklas Kronwall - and led 2-0 on pinpoint passing plays by the 3:55 mark.

"We were a little in awe of them, gave them too much respect at the start of the game," Todd White said. "All their systems are full go."

Sean Avery scored at 8:35 of the first, and goals by Erik Christensen and Artem Anisimov (shorthanded) in a 27-second span of the second period tied the game at 3, but the Wings blew past the lapse. Goalie Chad Johnson, subbing in the third for Martin Biron, let in a short-sider by Tomas Holmstrom for the game-winner at 4:04 and the Rangers couldn't answer. "The longer they have the puck, the more problems they're going to give you," Tortorella said.

Which leads back to the Rangers' problem: They haven't settled on anything yet.

Derek Stepan played between Marian Gaborik and Alexander Frolov but was amazed at the difference between the Red Wings and the Devils, whom the Rangers beat in their previous two games.

"They're always moving," said the 20-year-old who left the University of Wisconsin to turn pro. "They find the open man, they make great three-foot passes."

Although Tortorella urged against an overreaction, few Rangers stood out.

"They had almost their full lineup out there," said Gaborik, who was held to one shot on Jimmy Howard (Frolov had none). "We needed to be on top of them more and we weren't."