After registering one shot in the Rangers' opening preseason game and not playing in the second, Artem Anisimov looked like anything but a lock for the Rangers' roster. But since then, Anisimov has proven he's not only going to be on the team for Friday night's opener in Pittsburgh, but that he should be among the Blueshirts' top three lines. Ever since a highlight-reel goal late in the first period of the Blueshirts' third preseason game against the Red Wings, Anisimov has been a force to be reckoned with. He scored goals in four of the Rangers' final five preseason games, including a third-period power play goal in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Capitals in the Rangers' final preseason game Sunday. That was enough for him to finish the preseason as the Blueshirts' leading scorer with four goals and two assists. Anisimov proved the kind of talent he has last season in the AHL with Hartford. The Rangers' second-round pick (54th overall) in the 2006 draft, Anisimov went from 16 goals and 27 assists in 74 games with Hartford in the 2007-08 season to 37 goals and 44 assists in 80 games with the Wolf Pack last year. After Anisimov made his NHL debut Feb. 3 against the Thrashers at the Garden, the Rangers proved their faith in the 21-year-old Russian by playing him for over five minutes in their Game 7 loss to the Capitals last spring. With his play meriting him a spot as one of the Blueshirts' top nine forwards, the question becomes where to play Anisimov once Sean Avery's right knee sprain is healed and he's ready to return. With Brandon Dubinsky anchoring one line and Vinny Prospal another, that leaves shifting captain Chris Drury to right wing in order to give Anisimov a line to center. The Rangers have already tested out that possibility during the preseason when Anisimov played with Drury on his right wing for several shifts last Thursday against the Capitals. If the Blueshirts do go in that direction, they likely would have Anisimov between Drury and Ales Kotalik. That would leave Dubinsky centering Ryan Callahan and Avery, while Prospal would play with Marian Gaborik and Chris Higgins.