The Need to Contribute

 

Patrick Hoffman (HV)

 

For many National Hockey League teams, the last month of the season is a time where your teams’ best players have to step up. Your goal scorers need to put the puck in the net, your defensemen need to keep it out and your goaltender needs to play well enough every single night to give his team a chance to win.

 

There are also teams that have an unlikely catalyst (s) that can score goals and make the right play at the right time. For the New York Rangers, this unlikely catalyst has been center Matt Cullen.

 

This past week, the small forward provided the Rangers with two winning shootout goals against Eastern Conference foes, the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes, both teams that are in playoff contention or are sitting on the cusp of the coveted eight spot.

 

“At this time of year, your sense of urgency goes up because you know how important these points are,” Cullen said after Sunday’s 2-1 shootout win over the Hurricanes.

 

Signed as a free agent this past summer, the Rangers expected big things out of Cullen as he helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup last year as he set career highs in goals (25) and points (49).

 

However, things started out rough for the forward as he was placed between superstar- forward Brendan Shanahan and a star rookie from last season, Petr Prucha. Being put on a top tier line put more pressure on Cullen to score points but he had trouble doing so. As a result, head coach Tom Renney put him and Prucha down on the third line along with Jed Ortmeyer. The result: more scoring opportunities and more points.

 

In his last 19 games, Cullen has recorded 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) and in 66 games this season he now has 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points. Playing alongside Prucha and Ortmeyer has lit a fire under Cullen as he is now playing with more confidence and is enjoying his first season in the Big Apple.

 

“I am feeling more comfortable and the coaches are really giving me an opportunity to play here,” Cullen said. “I am having a lot of fun.”

Cullen has also been very valuable to the Rangers’ penalty kill as he leads the team in shorthanded goals (3) and has been a very smart defensive forward.

 

Renney feels that Cullen’s high level of play can be attributed to how he has finally found a niche in New York and has settled down.

“Matt is more at peace with New York as a whole and that has allowed him to get settled in,” Renney said. “Having him on our team has been a huge advantage for us.”

 

Coming down the home stretch, Cullen is geared up to continuing to provide the Rangers with excellent play and only hopes that it can lead to a playoff spot.

 

“Every game is big and feels like playoff hockey,” Cullen said. “It’s hard not to get excited.”

 

Photo: Matt Cullen from New York Rangers © Andris Jansons (HV)