Last season, the Penguins had the second-worst record in the NHL but the league's sixth-best power play.

Now they're hoping to make a significant move forward in the standings, an objective that will be a lot more realistic if their power play doesn't remain anchored at the bottom of the league rankings.

The Penguins (1-1) enter their game tonight against the New York Rangers with nothing to show for eight chances with the extra man. Going into last night's games, Detroit and Dallas were the only other clubs without a power-play goal, and the Penguins are the only one that has neither scored nor allowed a man-advantage goal.

The power play got a lot of attention in practice this week, but no one is ready to suggest that anything drastic -- whether it's a change in personnel or a tactical overhaul -- is in order at such an early juncture.

"There's no need to panic," said defenseman Ryan Whitney, who mans the left point on the No. 1 unit. "It's only been two games, and Detroit [which held the Penguins without a shot in four tries Saturday] has the best [penalty-killing] in the league.

"At the same time, you wish you had one by now. But I wouldn't be afraid, if only for the fact that we're getting chances."

If there is a cause for concern, it's that the Penguins haven't fared particularly well in battles for loose pucks, and it's tough to have a productive power play when the other team has possession.

"We're not completely outworking their four guys to get the puck back," Whitney said. "We have to go completely all out to get the puck back. If you're not doing that, they're going to get it out [of the attacking zone]. Even if you have an extra guy, you have to outwork the four-man unit."

Getting the puck on goal makes a lot of things possible -- "When you get shots, it creates a little more confusion for the penalty-killers," center Sidney Crosby said -- and the Penguins seem confident that the shots will come soon.

And that goals will follow. Enough, at least, to let them match their 19 percent conversion rate from 2005-06.

"We showed last year that we could have one of the top power plays in the league," Crosby said. "There's no reason we shouldn't be able to do that again."

Ekman ready

Winger Nils Ekman returned to practice yesterday after taking a day off because of a strained hamstring and pronounced himself ready to play tonight.

He acknowledged that there was "tightness" in that muscle during the workout, but added quickly that there was "no problem" and "I will definitely play."

Ekman skated with Ryan Malone and John LeClair on the No. 2 line, where he has worked since Mark Recchi replaced him on the top unit with Crosby and Colby Armstrong in the loss to Detroit.

Center Evgeni Malkin took another significant step in his recovery from a dislocated shoulder when he was given a black jersey -- not the red "medical" one he had been wearing -- for yesterday's workout.

"He's close to being ready [for contact]," coach Michel Therrien said. "We want to be cautious with him, but we're really pleased with his progress."

Motivating factor

The Penguins can expect to face a highly motivated opponent tonight, because the Rangers were thoroughly displeased with their performance Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia.

"There's nothing good about [the Flyers] game in any way, shape or form," coach Tom Renney told reporters.

Brendan Shanahan, who joined the Rangers as a free agent in the offseason, suggested his teammates have yet to develop enough confidence in their abilities.

"We have to develop that belief that not only do we deserve to go out and win every night, but that we're better than the team we're playing against," he said.

Slap shots

Rangers right winger Jaromir Jagr has a goal and four assists in the first three games, but told The New York Times he still is feeling the effects of offseason shoulder surgery. "My shot is not there," he said. "I can't really shoot. I'm going to take my time. Don't forget, for five months, I didn't do anything. The strength is not there." ... Shanahan has 601 career goals and needs one to pass Jari Kurri and take sole possession of 14th place on the league's all-time list. ... Therrien described the Penguins' defensive play in their first two games as "really solid," and labeled their practices this week "productive." ... The Penguins planned to have a team dinner in Manhattan last night.