MONTREAL – Martin Biron didn’t conduct his typical, French-English pregame morning interview session in Montreal, as even the most loquacious Rangers buckle down and focus with 15 games remaining on the desperate task at hand.
 
“It was disappointing we didn’t come back (in Ottawa) with the same type of team game,” John Tortorella said at the Bell Centre, where the Rangers haven’t won in four years, “but defensively and offensively after Philly, I thought that was more of a game that we can play. And it’s more of a game that we have to play, or we will be done.”
 
Can’t say it more simply than that.
 
Tortorella is inserting recently resigned Norwegian winger Mats Zuccarello into the lineup and encouraging the offensive-minded forward to be “instinctive.”
 
TORTORELLA HASN'T GIVEN UP ON STRUGGLING GABORIK

“We’re not going to give him much direction,” Tortorella said. “We can give direction as far as our breakout, whatever it may be, but we’re looking for instinctive, and we’re hoping he can help us there.”
 
Told of Tortorella’s loosening the reins, Zuccarello had a humorous but honest and realistic response.
 
“I don’t think he means that I can go out and do whatever I want,” Zuccarello, 25, said. “But I just have to stick with the system and if I see a play, try to make that play, try not to force it. I’m not going to come back and think that I’m gonna score three goals and be the savior. I just have to play my game and make a play if it’s there to make.”
 

OTTAWA – The Rangers are 4-11-1 against Eastern Conference playoff teams, and in the next eight days they will face the Montreal Canadiens, the Winnipeg Jets, and the Pittsburgh Penguins twice. New York is 0-7-0 combined against those clubs this season.
 
On top of being shutout, 3-0, by the Senators on Thursday night at Scotiabank Place, the bleak road ahead likely contributed to Henrik Lundqvist’s frustration after this loss.
 
“I don’t know what to say,” Lundqvist said. “I have a few thoughts but I don’t think it’s going to help our group right now. Bottom line is, it’s not good enough and we’re not going to make it if … We need everybody right now. We need top player and smart plays for 60 minutes. We’re playing teams that are working really hard and we have to match it. If we’re not matching it, we’re not going to win.”
 
Lundqvist made 26 saves, several of which would have swung the momentum in the Rangers’ favor if they had ever had the ability and awareness to grab ahold of it.
 
“Hank played out of his head tonight for sure and gave us a chance,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “Unfortunately, we can’t salvage a point or two.”

IGINLA TRADE TO PENGUINS HAS EAST FOES ON ALERT
 

OTTAWA – The Pittsburgh Penguins are going all-in for a Stanley Cup run this spring, topped off by Thursday morning’s Iggy Shuffle.
 
Early Thursday, the Penguins acquired Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla, 35, in exchange for prospects Kenneth Agostino and Ben Hanowski, plus the Penguins’ 2013 first-round draft pick.
 
Iginla waived his no-trade clause to join the Penguins (26-8-0, 52 points), who sit atop the Eastern Conference and in the past five days also have acquired Dallas Stars veteran winger Brenden Morrow and San Jose Sharks depth defenseman Douglas Murray in separate trades to beef up their roster.
 
RANGERS OFFENSE FINDS ANOTHER GEAR ON LATE KREIDER GOAL VS. FLYERS

None of the players the Penguins have acquired carry contracts beyond this season, when NHL teams must eliminate salaries in fit under the salary cap that will shrink from $70.2 million this season to $64.3 in 2013-14.
 
Pittsburgh’s acquisition of Iginla completed a dramatic and unexpected twist early Thursday morning.
 
Reports on Wednesday night had Iginla going to the Boston Bruins (21-7-4, 46 points), the fourth seed in the East, but in the wee hours on Thursday, the Flames announced Iginla had been traded to the Penguins.
 
In their three recent trades, the Penguins gave up three prospects – Kenneth Agostino, Ben Hanowski and Joseph Morrow – and four drafts picks – this year’s first-rounder, second-rounder and fifth-rounder, plus their 2014 second-rounder.
 
Pittsburgh also acquired Dallas’ third-rounder in this spring’s draft in the trade for Brenden Morrow.
 

PHILADELPHIA – John Tortorella and J.T. Miller both said Tuesday morning that Miller (left wrist) is a game-time decision for Tuesday night’s game at Wells Fargo Center against the Flyers.
 
But Miller said an MRI on his wrist came back OK, that he feels better and that he’s ready to play if his number is called after sitting out Sunday night’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Capitals.

Tuesday’s projected lineup below isn’t official, especially since the Rangers didn’t show lines at their morning skate. It’s just what I am guessing will happen: I think Tortorella will scratch Taylor Pyatt and insert Miller as the third line right wing.
 
The Rangers (15-13-3, 33 points) are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, just one point ahead of the Hurricanes, two points ahead of both the Capitals and Islanders, and three points ahead of the Sabres.

ZUCCARELLO AGREES TO TERMS ON CONTRACT TO REJOIN RANGERS
 
The Blueshirts are fighting for their playoff lives, having gone 2-4-1 in their past seven games, most recently with a 3-1 regulation loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday and a 3-2 shootout defeat to the Capitals on Sunday, both at the Garden.
 
Rangers forward Rick Nash and defenseman Anton Stralman, who both skipped Monday’s practice for a maintenance day, were on the ice and ready for Tuesday night’s game.
 
Nash said Capitals defenseman’s Karl Alzner’s slash across the wrist Sunday night has not lingered with him and that he’s feeling fine. Nash also said that to create more offense, he believes his line needs to do a better job in the defensive zone.