Crosby starts strong

Among the many things Crosby did Saturday that made it a great game for him — three goals, two assists, five shots, a 75 percent faceoff night and no penalties for a third consecutive game — was a move early on that portended the night he was going to have.

He drove toward the net and split the Rangers’ defense, something he hasn’t done much this season, although it didn’t result in a goal.

“I just tried to read the play,” Crosby said. “There was an opening there. It’s hard to do that. A lot of teams play pretty tight in the neutral zone, and usually stick pretty close to me here.

“But I had a chance coming off the bench, so I was able to get some speed [moving into the New York end].”

Gaborik a solid choice

The Rangers might have been seen as taking a chance when they signed Marian Gaborik as a free agent in July. Not because the winger lacks talent — he has speed and a sniper’s shot — but because he had developed a reputation for being injury-prone.

Gaborik has missed just two games this season. In 24 games, he has 19 goals and 35 points, putting him second in NHL scoring as of yesterday.

Matched often against Jordan Staal’s line Saturday, Gaborik was relatively quiet, if you can call two assists and a first-period short breakaway quiet. He had a goal in the Rangers’ season-opening 3-2 loss against the Penguins. And the Penguins will have the disadvantage in matchups as the road team tonight.

Center Sidney Crosby said the challenge for players of all positions is to always keep track of Gaborik.

“He might be able to kind of sit in the weeds back there and break away and look for loose pucks or chipped pucks through the neutral zone,” Crosby said.

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