Dubinsky Off To Strong Start

Look, it's just a three-game snapshot at the start of the NHL season, but so far there's not much missing from the performance of New York Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage.

He didn't get on the score sheet tonight in a 3-2 win at New Jersey, but he clocked 23:37 of ice time to lead the Rangers, went +1, fired one shot and won 12 of 19 face-offs -- all while centering wingers Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal on the first line.

After three games, Dubinsky is tied for the team lead in goals, assists and points with 2-2--4 totals, and leads the club with a +5 rating. His average ice time of 23:08 is the most among Rangers forwards, dwarfs his average last season (as a second-year guy) of 16:38, and is second-most on the club, trailing only defenseman Marc Staal.

So far, he's making that $1.7 million salary he pulled by holding out during training camp look like an excellent investment.