Flyers' Del Zotto focused on two points vs. Rangers

When Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto walks into Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, he says his focus will be on two things: the two points at stake when his team plays the New York Rangers (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, SN1, TVA SPORTS).

But in the back of his mind the 24-year-old will be looking to show the Rangers what they gave up when he was traded to the Nashville Predators on Jan. 22.

"I think anytime you get too emotional, too caught up in a certain game or a moment, it seems to get the best of you," Del Zotto said. "I'm sure [Wednesday] when I get there it'll hit me a little bit, bring back some memories."

Prior to coming to Philadelphia, Del Zotto's most recent hockey memories weren't very good.

After setting career highs with 10 goals and 41 points in 77 games with the Rangers in 2011-12, he had three goals and 21 points in 46 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, and last season he had two goals and 11 points in 42 games. He saw his ice time drop from 23:10 per game to 17:45 and he was a healthy scratch nine times.

Things didn't get much better when the Rangers traded him to the Predators in January. He had one goal and five points while averaging 16 minutes of ice time per game. He played in 25 games but was a healthy scratch five times, including three of the final four games of the season.

When 2013-14 ended Nashville opted not to make Del Zotto a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

It wasn't until Aug. 5, the same day the Flyers announced veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen was out indefinitely because of blood clots, that they signed Del Zotto to a one-year contract.

He started the season on the third pairing with Luke Schenn, but injuries and Del Zotto's strong play have forced Berube to increase his ice time.

In 16 games Del Zotto has two goals and six assists, and is averaging 21:18 per game in ice time. In the past nine games he's played at least 23 minutes per game; that includes time on the power play and the penalty kill. The Flyers have used 10 defensemen this season and Del Zotto is the only one to play more than seven games and average more than 1:30 per game on the power play and the penalty kill.

"He's an easy guy to play with," Nick Schultz, Del Zotto's defense partner for most of the season, told CSNPhilly.com. "He moves the puck well, moves his feet well. He is in good position. If he gets caught he is able to get back. A good skater. He is playing extremely well."

Del Zotto said his humbling job search helped him grow up a bit.

"I think each year you gain more experience, gain maturity, you learn a lot about yourself, a lot about your game, the League," he said. "The biggest thing, and I've said it since Day One, is consistency. You can play one great game, but it's a matter of how you follow it up the next game and the next day. And try to play consistent throughout the whole season and playoffs as well."

So far Del Zotto has done just that for the Flyers. While some weren't sure what Philadelphia was getting, Berube said he never doubted Del Zotto could help.

"I watched him in New York for a couple years," Berube said. "He's a very good player."

He's also out to disprove the doubters who gave up on him after last season.

"I think any competitive person, especially an athlete … you have to prove something to them," Del Zotto said. "That's just the competitive nature in you."

However Del Zotto said he'll do his best to focus on the job at hand, and that's getting two points against the Rangers.

"I spent 300 games, 4 1/2 years there," Del Zotto said. "Anytime you spend that much time with a certain team or in a certain place you're going to have lots of memories there. It'll be special going back, but it's not the main focus. Two points is what I'm focused on."

Follow Adam Kimelman on Twitter: @NHLAdamK