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Penguins hoping to snap season-long skid vs. Rangers

Jan 5, 2009 - 2:31 PM Pittsburgh (19-16-4) at NY Rangers (23-14-3), 7:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Frustration is boiling over for captain Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Crosby and the Penguins will try to avoid a fifth consecutive loss Monday, when they visit the rival New York Rangers.

An All-Star Game starter, Crosby has struggled to score since the end of November. The superstar has notched just two goals in those 16 games.

The 21-year-old Crosby was, once again, held without a point in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, but did engage in his first fight of the campaign with Brett McLean and recorded a season-high 21 penalty minutes.

Crosby is tied for the team lead with 15 goals and ranks second on the club with 50 points this season. Fellow All-Star and teammate Evgeni Malkin has a league-leading 45 assists and 60 points.

The Rangers have also struggled recently, losing four of their last five contests.

New York has also lost the Atlantic Division lead for the first time this season, falling into a second-place tie with the New Jersey Devils at 49 points - one shy of the Philadelphia Flyers.

After getting knocked out of the postseason by the Penguins in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals, the Rangers have enjoyed some success against Pittsburgh this campaign. In both meeting this season, New York rallied for a come-from-behind 3-2 shootout victory.