A Darius Kasparaitis, 34, was the Islanders' first-round pick in 1992 and now anchors the Rangers' defense. When asked if he could be considered the glue of the team's defense, coach Tom Renney said, "Maybe the Crazy Glue." The free-spirited Kasparaitis has no goals this season, but leads the team in hits and blocked shots, though he has played only one game since March 20, when he strained a groin muscle. He spoke with Newsday's Steve Zipay after practice last week.

SZ: How do you account for your inability to score? Did you not practice when you were growing up?

DK: Where I grew up in Lithuania, we had one puck, and every time you'd shoot the puck out, we'd have to go find it. And that's why nobody ever shot because we didn't want to lose it. I went to Russia when I was was 14 to play hockey because they had more pucks. But it was too late.

SZ: One of the plays that has disappeared is the hip check, although you still line guys up and surprise them. Did you learn that in Lithuania?

DK: Maybe when I was a kid a couple times I tried it, but no, it just came natural. In the NHL, I realized I could do it more. When I came here in the '90s, everybody tried to beat you one-on-one, no dump-ins, they just tried to dangle the puck and I realized I could just get low and put my hip down. The hitting comes by nature. [Ryan] Hollweg reminds me of me when I was was young. He goes in and nails somebody and people try to kill him. That's how I was and am sometimes now. The [groin] injury won't change me. If Jaromir [Jagr] gets hurt, I don't think he's going to come back and say he can't score.

SZ: When there's music on in the room, you're generally the DJ, right?

DK: I try to make everybody happy. Most times, I know what the guys like. I try to throw some different mixes in. Some Frank Sinatra for coaches. Boney M. Some rap. Some Neil Diamond. Carly Simon. "You're So Vain," that's Jaromir's song.

SZ: You're sort of a mentor to the younger defensemen. What else do you bring to the table?

DK: Energy, being funny when I have to and serious when I have to. I tell them there's going to be good games, bad games, but you can't dwell on it, you just have to continue improving and not be satisfied because if you want to have a long career, you have to keep working at it.