Lundqvist does quite a number

The number on Henrik Lundqvist's stat line that jumped out to the New York Rangers goalie wasn't the 19 in the win column but the zero under shutouts.

Never did the numbers 20 and 1 go as well together as they did last night.

Lundqvist bounced back from a slump and a bout with a stomach bug, sending the Rangers to a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins that stopped a slide and lifted host New York back into first place in the Atlantic Division.

"It is about time. I haven't even been close to a shutout," Lundqvist said. "Just going into the third without any goals felt pretty good to me."

Lundqvist allowed three goals or fewer in 17 of his first 18 outings this season, but gave up 13 overall in his past three - at least four in each game.

With his 27-save effort against the slumping Penguins, Lundqvist (20-11-3) became the fifth NHL goalie to start with four 20-win seasons. He has 18 career shutouts and is the fourth Rangers goalie to post four consecutive 20-win seasons.

New York, 1 for 17 with the man advantage during a 1-3-1 slide, got power-play goals from Nigel Dawes and Paul Mara and jumped over idle New Jersey and Philadelphia to regain the first-place position they held all season until last weekend. Chris Drury sealed it with a third-period goal, and Scott Gomez added an empty-net goal.

Pittsburgh has dropped five straight, six of seven, and seven of nine to fall below the playoff cutoff halfway through the season.

Sidney Crosby was held without a point for the third straight game, and NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin has only two assists in seven games.

Oilers 3, Islanders 2 - Andrew Cogliano's goal midway through the third period capped a rally from a two-goal deficit, gave Edmonton its fourth victory in its last five home games, and sent the Islanders to their 13th straight road loss.