They say the best defense is a good offense.

In the Rangers case last night at Pittsburgh, the defense was their offense.

The four goals scored – leading to the 4-3 overtime win - all came from their backliners after a shaky first period when defensive miscues cause them to go into dressing room down 2-0 after one.

“It's like we felt embarrassed after the first period, but we believed in ourselves,” said Michal Rozsival to reporters, who tied the game in the second with two tallies. “We knew that if we played our game, things could happen. We tried to keep it simple and I managed to get two.”

After Maxime Talbot and Sidney Crosby scored for the Pens in the first Rozsival came back 49 second into the second to cut the lead in half and then had a shorthanded goal just a few minutes later.

And then late in the period, Dan Girardi put the Rangers ahead with a power play goal.

“When you have tight hockey like that, often times those defensemen are very much part of the offense,” coach Tom Renney said to reporters. “Under the circumstances, it is a little unique but I don't care if the trend continues.”

Also a little unique was the hero of the night. After Petr Sykora tied it late in the third, Jason Strudwick, who returned to the Rangers last March, after playing in Switzerland, score the game winner 1:40 into the overtime.

With Paul Mara streaking down the right, he was able to send the pass to Strudwick in the left, who tapped it in for the game winner.

“I don't even know what to tell you - sometimes pucks go in the net and that time it did,” Strudwick said to reporters in Pittsburgh. “I looked over and I saw (Mara) jumping up and I had a good head of speed going there. So I thought, 'What the heck, let's go for it.' And Paulie made an incredible pass.”

It was Strudwick’s first goal since Jan. 28, 2006 – also against Pittsburgh – and good enough for a sweep of the Rangers four game road trip.

“Our season has been one of hard work and determination and we haven't gotten the results we wanted, but lately we have,” Renney said to reporters. “I don't think there's a guy in our organization that doesn't think wonderful things of Jason. It's one of those nights where it couldn't happen to a better guy.”