TAMPA - Petr Prucha has been scratched for eight straight games. At 26 and in his fourth NHL season, he has played in just eight of the Rangers’ 25 games and has yet to record a point. Still, somehow, it remains impossible to wipe the smile off…

AT

Tonight’s Game
The Rangers face-off against the Florida Panthers tonight at the BankAtlantic Center (7:30 p.m.), in the first game of a home-and-home set. The Blueshi…

Rangers head coach Tom Renney discusses the Blueshirts’ 4-3 overtime shootout win on Nov. 28 at Florida.

Henrik Lundqvist and Aaron Voros look back on their team’s 4-3 victory at Florida on Nov. 28, which ran their winning streak to three games.

Rangers broadcasters Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti recap the team’s 4-3 overtime shootout win in Florida on Nov. 28.

The other day I went around the locker room and asked players what they were thankful for. All of them mentioned their health and their family. A few mentioned hockey.

Me, I’m thankful for a beautiful wife, two awe-inspiring boys, and the fact that I’m healthy enough to still play the game I love. And I’m [...]

Markus Naslund scored two goals, and then got another in an overtime shootout on Wednesday night, as the Rangers hit Thanskgiving with a 3-2 road win over Tampa Bay, capping a sweep of the Bolts and taking control of the conference lead.

TAMPA - With 1:03 to play in overtime and a faceoff just outside the Rangers’ blue line, Tom Renney sent defensive-minded Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom onto the ice as his forward unit, a clear signal that the head coach was playing to get into…

So, make that two strong victories in a row now for the Rangers, even though they needed the breakaway contest to wrap up the two points Wednesday night. Tampa Bay didn’t look to me like a team that has now lost seven of eight, and the Rangers are right to feel good about how they weathered the pounding that Evgeny Artyukhin and Co. were dishing out in the first half of the game.

The three stars in the building here in Tampa Wednesday night were 1. Markus Naslund (two goals, plus a shootout goal); 2. Michal Rozsival (2 assists and a strong game at both ends of the ice); and 3. Artyukhin. Hard to argue with those three, except that I thought Fightin’ Nik Zherdev deserved a place in there. Rozsival has got to love seeing him stationed along the halfboards or up high with him on power plays, or whenever else, because he’s putting the puck right in a spot where Rozsival will step right up and fire away.

Zherdev also scored the shootout goal that put the game away - and then, of course, there was that little dustup with No. 1 draft pick Steven Stamkos. No matter that Zherdev absorbed the business end of that scrap (Tom Renney joked that Zherdev got the “Gordie Orr hat trick” Wednesday night, two nights after Brandon Dubinsky got it), his teammates must love seeing a guy with no fighting experience stand up for himself against a guy who’s fought before, though not in the NHL. (Although they probably enjoy seeing Zherdev do it in small doses; that’s not really a guy you want out there too often when the fists are flying. I would think the same goes for the Lightning with Stamkos; in moderation.)

Here’s what Renney had to say about it: “He’s a real competitive player, he’s passionate, his teammates love him, and that reciprocates, there’s no question of that. But I love the fact that he stood up for himself - I think that’s really important, because with skilled players, there’s going to be challenges like that occasionally. There’s a code in the National Hockey League, and everybody knows that, but this was two good young hockey players showing the level of passion you have to play with to compete at this level. You know what? Good on both of them.”

And Markus Naslund: “I think it’s great. Ziggy’s playing hard, and he’s not just sitting back if he gets hit - he’s getting mad. I think it’s great to see skill players getting into it like that.”

As I get set to leave the St. Pete Times Forum, it is now officially Thanksgiving Day, so on a day devoted to turkey (yum) and football, let me wish all you hockey nuts a very happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turkey dinners and your families and your holiday, and we’ll talk again Friday when it’s time to enjoy Rangers-Panthers along with those leftovers.