Rangers left winger Benoit Pouliot scored at 18:07 of the third period to spoil the Washington Capitals' shutout in a 4-1 loss in New York Sunday night. It was Pouliot's third goal of the season.

Benoit Pouliot was a healthy scratch on Saturday for the first time this season. Pouliot was highly regarded out of junior hockey as he was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 Draft, following Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan and Jack Johnson. He has only two goals and five points with 33 penalty minutes in 29 games this season. He has bounced around in his NHL career as the Rangers are his fifth NHL team. He is not worth owning at this time.

Benoit Pouliot could be a healthy scratch Monday if Taylor Pyatt is able to return to the lineup. Pouliot had an opportunity at the beginning of November to take over a spot on the top line in place of the injured Rick Nash but that did not work out and he saw only 8:48 minutes of action on Saturday. Pouliot has two goals and four points in 23 games with 31 penalty minutes.

Benoit Pouliot will get a chance on the top line Saturday night. The Rangers signed the 27-year-old former fourth-overall pick from the 2005 draft this offseason. There are times when he looks like a frontline player and other times when he seems like he should be scratched. Lately, he's looked like the former, so coach Rangers coach Alain Vigneault will reward him. He will play alongside Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin.

The New York Rangers need to see more consistency out of Benoit Pouliot. "I've had this conversation with Ben, I've had this conversation with a few players in my career," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "You only get so many kicks at the can here, you only get so many teams. Obviously a guy like Ben, a high pick, a high skill level, you see it now and then and you go, 'Wow, why does the inconsistency or whatever is, not there on a more regular basis?' That's a question we're trying to figure out with him, obviously he's aware of it. He needs to figure it out. Sooner or later, you only get so many kicks at the can." Pouliot, 27, has three points and 25 penalty minutes in 12 games this season. The Rangers are the fifth NHL team he's played for and the fourth squad in as many seasons.

Benoit Pouliot picked up his first two points as a Ranger in their 3-2 overtime win versus the Red Wings on Saturday night. Pouliot is a former fourth-overall pick with slick offensive skills, but he's never shown much consistency. The Rangers signed him to bolster their forward depth, but instead he's done nothing of the sort. Saturday, he scored and assisted. Derick Brassard got the game-winner and Mats Zuccarello also scored. All three goals were the first for each player this season.

The New York Rangers have signed Benoit Pouliot to a one-year/$1.3 million contract. Pouliot scored eight goals and registered 12 assists in 34 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. He probably won't win a top-six forward spot with the Rangers, but he should get 30-40 points on the third line.

Benoit Pouliot did not get a qualifying offer from Tampa Bay and he will become an unrestricted free agent on July 5. He notched eight goals and 12 assists in 34 games for the Lightning during the lockout-shortened season.

Benoit Pouliot returned to the lineup Saturday against the Capitals after sitting out the previous two contests as a healthy scratch. Pouliot will boost the Lightning's depth, but he doesn't have a ton of fantasy value. "At first I didn't really get it, and it's tough when a coach tells you that you are not going to play for a couple of games,'' he said. "I was a little confused, but after that you realize it's part of the game and part of the business and that's what I did. It (stinks) sitting out and at first I was mad, not at the coach or anybody like that, just a matter of not playing is terrible. It's happened to me in the past and I don't like it at all and it's something you don't like to go through.'' Pouliot has 18 points and a plus-nine rating in 28 games this season.

Benoit Pouliot returned to Tampa Bay's lineup Tuesday following an 11-game absence due to a shoulder injury. He was used sparingly in the contest though, as he saw just 9:03 of ice time and finished with one shot.