NEW YORK -- Two weeks ago, the New York Rangers were rolling along, playing nearly unbeatable hockey and seemingly scoring goals at will.Now, theyre facing some adversity with a pair of key injuries and their first losing streak of the season.The Rangers won 10 of their first 13 to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division while averaging a league-leading 4.23 goals per game. They had won five straight, scoring at least five in each victory.Since then, the Rangers have totaled 21 goals -- including seven in a win at Vancouver last Tuesday -- while going 3-2-1 over the last six. Theyve followed that season-high scoring outburst with their first back-to-back losses, 4-2 at Columbus last Friday and 3-2 in a shootout at home against Florida on Sunday night.Now the first-place Rangers start a home-and home series at the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins -- just one point back in the Metropolitan -- on Monday night.New York captain Ryan McDonagh believes the team needs to attack the net and distract the opposing goalie to improve its scoring chances.Try to get on the inside a little bit more, take away the goalies eyes and hopefully get some rebound goals, deflection goals and make it a little bit tougher on the goalie, he said. Both nights the past two, (the goalie has) seen a lot of the pucks and thats a big difference there.Center Derek Stepan agreed with that assessment.Everyone is going to tell you that you have to get pucks and bodies to the net, you have to get screens, he said. Goaltenders are too good nowadays, (if) they see the puck they are going to make the save.During their strong start, the Rangers were rolling out four lines with a mix of speed and skill. They were getting contributions throughout the lineup, led by speedy free-agent addition Michael Grabner (11 goals). J.T. Miller leads the team with 17 points, and McDonagh and fellow defenseman Brady Skjei are tops with 11 assists each.Even though the output has slowed, they still began the week leading the NHL with 76 goals -- 16 more than the next-closest team -- and are the only team in the league with 14 players with 10 or more points. And of their 13 wins, eight have been by three or more goals.Though the Rangers got a point in the latest loss, the first time going beyond regulation this season, and moved into sole possession of first place in the division, that was no consolation to goalie Henrik Lundqvist.A point is always a point (but) we were looking to get two, he said.The Rangers scoring dip has been exacerbated by the loss of two key forwards in the last week. First, rookie right wing Pavel Buchnevich (four goals and four assists in 10 games) has missed the last four games due to back spasms and is out indefinitely. Then center Mika Zibanejad (four goals, 10 assists) broke his left leg sliding into the end boards early in overtime Sunday night. Hes expected to be out six to eight weeks.Every teams got injuries and we dont expect to be any different than anybody else, coach Alain Vigneault said. Every coach says in these moments its an opportunity for somebody else to get more ice time, and were confident whoever we decide to put in that spot will do the job for us.Vigneault didnt expect to call anyone up from AHL Hartford right away to fill the void, pointing to the teams 12 healthy forwards on the roster.Weve got some options there in the middle with Josh (Jooris) and (Brandon) Pirri that play in the middle, and Oscar (Lindberg) obviously, he said.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAPHydro Flask 32 Oz Sale Cheap .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Cheap Hydro Flask . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. http://www.waterbottlecybermonday.com/s-well-cyber-monday.html . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Hydro Flask Black Friday Sale . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Hydro Flask Wholesale .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final.Worcestershire 166 for 5 (Mitchell 61, Whiteley 41*, Clarke 3-22) beat Birmingham 164 (Wade 74, Hain 46, Henry 3-15) by five wicketsScorecard Worcestershire Rapids kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the NatWest T20 quarter-finals with a five wicket victory over local rivals Birmingham Bears after some explosive hitting from Ross Whiteley.The Rapids ended a run of five successive defeats in completed matches and completed a double over their neighbours to retain the Norman Gifford Trophy.Some explosive hitting by Ross Whiteley enabled the Rapids to reach their 165 target with four balls to spare. He showed the form which brought him 29 sixes in last seasons competition in smoting an unbeaten 42 off 20 balls with four sixes and three fours.Now the Rapids must now defeat Derbyshire Falcons in their final North Group match and hope other results go their way if they are to reach a fourth quarter-final in five years.In contrast, Birminghams colossal collapse when baqtting meant they have now lost three matches in a row in the competition to undermine their own hopes of a last eight spot.Dougie Brown, Birminghams director of cricket, said: It wasnt a case of the game drifting away. We were masters of our own demise again. We were last week as well. We lost eight wickets for 19 runs from a real position of authority.Worcestershire were immediately on the back foot as they lost three wickets inside the first four overs. Tom Kohler-Cadmore clipped Rikki Clarke into the hands of deep mid wicket, Joe Clarke played on to Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Joe Leach sliced Recordo Gordon to backward point.Brett DOliveira, who this week earned his first England Lions call-up, and skipper Daryl Mitchell tried to repair the damage as their half century stand came up in seven overs.The Rapids needed 95 off the final 10 overs and Mitchell targeted the firsst over from Aaron Thomason to increase the tempo, striking two sixes as the all-rounder conceded 19 overs.ddddddddddddThe return to the attack of Clarke ended a stand worth 76 in nine overs as DOliveira skied a comfortable catch to Josh Poysden at backward square leg.Mitchell reached his half-century off 29 balls with two sixes and four fours but Clarke also brought about his downfall on 61 as he drilled a catch to Sam Hain at mid off. But then Whiteley moved into overdrive with support from Ben Cox to turn ther game in ther Rapids favour.Birmingham appeared to be heading for a score in excess of 200 after reaching 120 for 1 in the 12th over. But a dramatic collapse saw nine wickets fall for just 35 runs and the Bears were bowled out for 164 in 19.3 overs. Australian wicket-keeper Matthew Wade led the initial onslaught for the visitors in his second T20 appearance for the Bears.He raced to a half century off just 23 balls with the aid of three successive sixes over long on off spinner DOliveira in an over costing 25 runs.Wade and Sam Hain plundered 103 in just nine overs for the second wicket. But the Rapids struck back once Wade, having made 74 off 32 deliveries, was caught by Rhodes at long-on off Ed Barnard.Rhodes then came into the attack and in his second over picked up three wickets as Laurie Evans, Hain (46) and Clarke all perished to the off spinner.Ateeq Javid was run out attempting a second run in the next over from Rhodes before Mitchell pulled off a fine one-handed catch at mid wicket to account for Jeetan Patel.Rhodes finished 4 for 13 from three overs in only his second T20 appearance before Henry polished off the innings with two wickets in his final over of his current spell at New Road. ' ' '