Struggling Dubinsky comes through

After Brandon Dubinsky's disappointing performance in the first two playoff games in Washington, the Rangers desperately needed the 24-year-old workhorse to deliver.

With the score tied in the third period Sunday and the Rangers clamoring for any way out of a 2-0 series hole, Dubinsky stepped up. His forceful drive from the left side to the net and a fortuitous bounce gave the Rangers the tiebreaking goal with 1:39 remaining.

The puck glanced off Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner and fluttered over the mask of goaltender Michal Neuvirth for the clincher in a 3-2 win over the Capitals at Madison Square Garden.

"I saw they converged there and I just wanted to bring it hard to the net,'' Dubinsky said. "I saw [Dan Girardi] on the back door. I thought if I jammed, he'd come in and help it. Fortunate bounce over the goalie and into the net.

"I wasn't sure how close it was. I was getting ready to start jamming before I saw the ref's arm point to it. It was a great bounce, and we were due for one of those."

It was the first goal of the series for Dubinsky, and the second playoff game-winner of his career. He also picked up a secondary assist on Vinny Prospal's rebound goal at 8:01 in the third and had a game-high seven hits and a team-leading 25:45 of ice time.

Dubinsky also stood out because he elected to sport a bold mustache rather than the typical playoff beard.

The do-everything power forward was held off the scoresheet by the Capitals in the first two games and posted a minus-3 rating.

"When you bring the puck to the net with grit and passion, good things happen," Girardi said of his teammate's hard-nosed play.

Although Dubinsky has been used primarily at left wing for most of the season, coach John Tortorella moved him to the middle Sunday, between Marian Gaborik and Ruslan Fedotenko, and also between Gaborik and Prospal.

"Our middle of the ice -- I think guys have been fighting it a little bit,'' Tortorella said. "He is still a left winger, but I needed to use him in the middle and he has done a good job.

"I wanted to get him and [Gaborik] together. We had [Fedotenko] there for a bit and then we put Vinny Prospal there, and he ends up scoring a goal. They scored a big goal for us. He will probably stay there."

Game 4 is at the Garden Wednesday night.

"We couldn't spot this team a 3-0 lead," Dubinsky said. "We're happy to have another game here in New York to try and even the series."