COLUMBUS, Ohio - Michael Del Zotto is 20 years old, but just because he is in the NHL and not in college does not mean that he can escape homework.
When John Tortorella made the defenseman a healthy scratch for the first time in his career on Thursday night, Del Zotto had an assignment: Analyze the Rangers' power play.
As a rookie last season, Del Zotto was handed the job of quarterbacking the Rangers' man-up unit, and tallied four of his nine goals and 18 of his 28 assists doing so. While both of Del Zotto's goals this season have come on the power play, he has only six assists, with three on the man advantage in 29 games.
"We wanted him to pick apart our power play, pick apart his position, so that he's not just sitting up there eating hot dogs," Tortorella said after the Rangers practiced at Carleton University in Ottawa Friday. "I haven't read it yet - will on the plane ride - but I know it's very extensive. ...Michael is cerebral, too. So it's good for him."
Del Zotto saw an energized power play on Thursday night that paid off with Michael Sauer's game-winning goal in the third period. That tally brought the Rangers to 10-for-50 on road power plays this season, sixth-best in the NHL entering Friday's games, compared to their 13.3% (8-for-60) conversion rate at home, which ranks ahead of only the Florida Panthers (7.9%) and the Rangers' opponent Saturday, the Columbus Blue Jackets (7.7%).
The divergent power play numbers mirror the Rangers' fortunes as they are 6-8-1 at home, but lead the league with 11 victories on the road.
ENFORCED ABSENCE
The Rangers sent Derek Boogaard back to New York Friday to have his shoulder checked out after a hard tumble to the ice at the end of his fight with Ottawa's Matt Carkner in the first period on Thursday....Defenseman Steve Eminger, who left the game in the third period after "he went into the boards funny," as Tortorella put it, is day-to-day.
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