Prust ends drought with game-winner

Brandon Prust had gone so long between goals, so forgive him if he more than doubled the length of the drought when asked about it Sunday.

"It felt like 100 (games)," the rugged Rangers winger said.

Prust's slump-snapping goal, which proved to be the game-winner in Sunday's 3-2 win over Washington, actually was his first in 49 games since Oct. 20. But he has been a regular contributor to the Rangers' run to the best record in the Eastern Conference (36-13-5).

"He's an easy guy to pull for," said coach John Tortorella, whose team next faces the Bruins in Boston on Tuesday. "We had our top players do some really good things (Saturday) and we get some other guys to step up and do some things today. I think everyone is just joining in and trying to play the best they can play."

"He does all the tough stuff," linemate Brandon Dubinsky added. "Sometimes, he doesn't get enough credit because he doesn't find himself on the scoresheet or the highlight clip, but we know what we have with him in here.

"He's been a stud for us and he'll continue to be important as we go down the stretch against other team's top guys."

The Rangers were leading 2-1 and killing a penalty when Prust converted an odd-man rush for a shorthanded goal, his second of the season. The 27-year-old Prust, who finished third in the NHL last season with five shorties, personifies the Rangers' blue-collar identity, with 14 fighting majors this year.

It certainly felt nice to be rewarded for doing all of the dirty work.

"Just going to the net hard, I was thinking I'd plant myself in front of the net," Prust said. "Duby and (Brian) Boyle did a good job of getting pucks in and moving it. We had a really good game tonight. We had lots of chances. So it was good to get that one."

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