NEW YORK – With all the offensive weapons on the Rangers, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is still the most valuable player.

The Ranger netminder was perfect last night throwing his third shutout of the season, stopping all 31 shots, in only 12 games. And two goals were enough to give the Rangers a 2-0 win over the Washington Capitals.

“Hank obviously has been playing unbelievable for us,” said defenseman Marc Staal, who recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Chris Drury’s goal that made it 1-0 6:45 into the second. “He keeps us in every game. Just before the game you just have much confidence in him that he is going to play well every game. It settles the room down a little bit, knowing he’s back there. It’s fun to be part of a team like that.”

Although his record is only 5-6-1, Lundqvist has an 1.67 goals against average for the season, continuing his hot streak from the end of last season.

“I think he’s picked up where he left off,” said coach Tom Renney. “I do believe he’s got a very distinct focus on how important his play is to us. What’s really good about him is that he hasn’t overwhelmed himself by that mandate.”

And it’s been the rest of the team’s mandate to score more goals. After a first period where the Capitals came out stronger than the Rangers, Lundqvist held serve and was able to take the lead on Drury’s redirect of Staal’s shot for No. 23’s second of the season.

“We had it a little rough in the first period,” Drury said. “Hank kept us alive or it could have gotten ugly. The good thing is we were able to regroup and put it behind us.”

Lundqvist was good enough to hold the 1-0 score up, but Michal Rozsival made it 2-0 on a 5-on-3 power play in third with a little less than 10:30 minutes left.

Lundqvist and the defense were able to overcome a double minor to Fedor Tyutin late in the third to ice the win.

The Capitals were shooting all night and it wasn’t only Lundqvist, but the defense as well as Washington shot 30 more times but missed the net.

“I think that we really do take pride now in this defensive look of our team,” Renney said. “The guys do have a certain level of pride now in limiting scoring chances and guys make a conscientious effort to play sound defensive hockey. And the fact that Henrik’s there to slam the door shut when we do get ourselves in trouble is pretty special.”

NOTES: Sean Avery did not suit up last night and Renney is playing it cautious as to when he will come back. “We have to see if they injury on the joint has any damage and that’s where the medical people step in and help us,” Renney said. “We all know how Sean likes to play and how he has to play to help us. That may be the ultimate test.”

Dan Girardi took a puck to the nose late in the third, but Renney said he was ok…Marek Malik left the game with back spasms after slamming into the board 1:10 in the third.