The Colorado Avalanche are on a skid and are desperate for wins and power play success after dropping the last three games and being one for their last 26 chances with a man advantage. It’s been a crazy 72 hours for Colorado, who will see the second installment of the new-look Avalanche and their freshly acquired forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury. The Rangers are starting to find their game after a tumultuous start but are still 10 points out of third place in the division. Can Colorado seal the series sweep, or will the Rangers continue the mile-high suffering?
Colorado Avalanche
It’s almost impossible not to think or talk about who won’t be on the ice for the Avalanche today, but let’s try and focus on who will bear the burgundy and blue. The Colorado Avalanche activated Miles Wood today, and it appears he will return to the bottom six. Jack Drury was skating with the third line and the other two members of the “roaring 20s line,” and I think that will continue. That leaves a 4th line role for Miles Wood at 2.5M AAV.
There aren’t many ‘must-win’ games late in January, but this feels like one for the Avalanche. The trade is one thing, but should they follow it up by matching the season’s longest losing streak? That can’t happen.
Projected Lineup:
Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Juuso Parssinen — Casey Mittelstadt — Artturi Lehkonen
Ross Colton — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Joel Kiviranta — Parker Kelly — Chris Wagner
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Keaton Middleton — Sam Malinski
New York Rangers
Some might point to the Rangers as an example of what happens when you pay one player too much, as they have inked Igor Shestirken for a hefty price tag and aren’t the same team we’ve seen in years past. It’s been a tough year for Mika Zibanajed and Chris Kreider, who seemed poised to make another playoff push this past offseason. Now it feels like they will be very fortunate to steal a wild card spot in the east, and they might be sellers by the deadline.
Projected Lineup:
Artemi Panarin — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis Lafrenière
Will Cuylle — Mika Zibanejad — Reilly Smith
Chris Kreider — Filip Chytil — Arthur Kaliyev
Adam Edstrom — Jonny Brodzinski — Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren — Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller — Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider
Goaltenders
It should be best on best, and that means Shesterkin vs. Blackwood! Hopefully, the Avs can solve Igor early and get out on the front foot. Let’s get Necas on the board too!
The Colorado Avalanche are heading to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers in search of answers as they look to bounce back from a recent slump. With a talented roster that includes the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Gabriel Landeskog, the Avs are hoping to find their winning form once again.
The Rangers, on the other hand, have been playing solid hockey as of late and will look to continue their success on home ice. Led by Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider, New York will be a tough test for the struggling Avalanche.
It will be a battle of two talented teams looking to prove themselves in this early season matchup. Can the Avs find the answers they need to get back on track? Or will the Rangers continue their winning ways? Be sure to tune in to find out.
Tags:
- Avs vs Rangers preview
- Colorado Avalanche game preview
- New York Rangers matchup analysis
- NHL game preview
- Avs search for answers in New York
- Colorado Avalanche game analysis
- Rangers vs Avalanche preview
- NHL game preview
- Avs vs Rangers game breakdown
- Colorado Avalanche game predictions
#Preview #Avs #search #answers #York #Rangers