Rangers relaxed getting ready for Isles

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Everything is thoroughly obvious about the Rangers' situation going into Tuesday night's game against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

The old rivalry, though the Islanders (4-7-3) are struggling and the Rangers (9-3-3) are flying, guarantees intensity.

"I feel it," Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. "I think it's a little extra-exciting to play the Islanders . . . It's always a great atmosphere. That definitely makes it different and special, I think. I appreciate it. I like the intensity."

So does a man who likes to stir up dissent occasionally. "You know, I'm not sure about their record," forward Sean Avery said. "But everyone knows Islanders-Rangers. They're always fun games over there."

No surprise, either, that the Rangers' six-game winning streak makes it impossible for them to find any negatives in a schedule that has them playing only one game in seven days -- which means a lot of practice time.

"If you're losing, you can't wait to get back and play again," forward Brad Richards said. "But winning, we're just enjoying everything. We have a good feeling, enjoy our practice days, our off days. We get a lot more accomplished when guys are in a good mood. When you're losing, you need to practice and you want to get back out on the ice and correct things, but it's not as fun to practice."

The Rangers' last loss was Oct. 29 against Ottawa, and "everybody knows how it works," Lundqvist said. "When you win a couple of games, everybody's smiling and happy. It's fun. Everybody's a lot more relaxed. When you lose a couple, it's definitely not the same feeling."

SEE PHOTOSLong Island in the pros: NHL edition

Also apparent is teamwide efficiency. Asked about the performance of the Rangers' defense, right down to the third pair of Steve Eminger and Jeff Woywitka, coach John Tortorella noted that the good defensive work extends to the forwards' play.

"A lot of it is our defense," Tortorella said, "but I think with our back pressure and our backchecking has helped. It's a good team defense."

Tortorella noted that there is a trust among teammates that each will do his job, especially away from the puck.

"We were running into some problems there for a bit -- not for a long time, but in spurts in games -- with duplicating assignments as far as trying to check,'' he said. "I think the guys have sorted that out and there's a better understanding and there is a trust.

"I trust this hockey club. I think they're a close-knit group. I think they're tryers."

And, since Oct. 29, smilers.