Rangers seeking consistency as they face Penguins

Inconsistency, thy name is Rangers.

"Most teams take 20 games to sort things out," said coach Alain Vigneault, whose team lost to the Avalanche, 4-3, in a shootout Thursday after blanking the Penguins, 5-0, on Tuesday. "I think we're on the right track and guys are working extremely hard. The atmosphere is extremely professional, the mood is upbeat . . . We've got a good group. We're trying to put the pieces together. We've got some kids improving."

In other words, they're looking for consistency, which has been difficult with injuries to key players.

"Any time you have players out as long as Step [Derek Stepan] has or Dan Boyle has, it's going to take a little while," Vigneault said.

"What's a little while? Is it a period? Is it two? Is it one or two games? Step's first game was good, his second was so-so. [Thursday night] was a lot better. You're hoping within two, three, four games, they're right back where they were before and they'll kick in and help us win some games."

Game 17 looms against the Penguins Saturday night in Pittsburgh, a rematch of Game 15 at the Garden on Tuesday night.

It also marks the first time that the Rangers (7-6-3) will visit Consol Energy Center since eliminating the Penguins in Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs in May.

The playoffs are a wilder beast, of course, and Rangers forward Rick Nash, tied for the league lead with 12 goals, saw no comparison to playing a team twice in a short span in November.

"I don't know if at this point of the season it matters,'' Nash said. "The one thing that matters is the points that are up for grabs in the division."

The Metro Division-leading Penguins beat the Maple Leafs Friday night to maintain their one-point lead over the Islanders, who beat the Panthers in a shootout. The Rangers are six points out of first.

Vigneault is aiming at nothing but the playoffs. "Anyone that gets in has a chance to win the Cup," he said, "because there's not a lot separating the teams now. We're all right there. It's one or two key players performing a little bit better; that's how competitive the league is."

Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start for the fourth straight game. Marc-Andre Fleury likely will be in the nets for the Penguins. Backup Thomas Greiss started Friday night in Toronto.

Notes & quotes: D Michael Kostka, who played seven games this season, cleared waivers at noon Friday and was assigned to Hartford . . . Tomas Kaberle also reported to the Wolfpack and was set to play Friday and Sunday on a professional tryout contract . . . Ryan McDonagh, who separated his shoulder Nov. 1, has not resumed skating.