Rangers at Avalanche
While Rick Nash has heated up with consecutive multi-goal contests, the Colorado Avalanche are significantly hotter after stringing together eight straight victories. The Avalanche aim to continue their good fortune on Saturday afternoon when they brace for a visit from Nash and the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center.
"We are earning what we get right now. We are playing some good hockey and we are a good team," said Nathan MacKinnon, who collected two goals and an assist on Thursday in Colorado's 5-3 victory over San Jose. The 22-year-old has scored seven goals and set up 10 others during his eight-game point streak and leads the league in scoring at home with 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 25 contests. Nash also secured a three-point performance in Thursday's 4-3 triumph over Buffalo, two days after scoring twice in a 5-1 rout of Philadelphia to snap New York's three-game skid. "I hope they come in bunches but it's funny how the game works," the 33-year-old said. "Sometimes you get five or six opportunities a night and you don't score, other times you get two chances and you put both in."
TV: 3 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (24-17-5): New York's depth on the back end will be tested after defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk revealed that he will undergo surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee. "I think it's the right time to get surgery," said the 28-year-old, who has played with the injury for the entire season after signing a four-year, $26.6 million contract this summer. "Handle it and take care of it before it becomes something we don't want to do down the line later in the season that would put me out during a crucial part of the season." Coach Alain Vigneault also noted that Marc Staal will miss the first two games of the road trip due to a hip flexor, with the moves prompting the team to recall fellow defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and forward Daniel Catenacci from Hartford of the American Hockey League.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (25-16-3): MacKinnon's linemate Mikko Rantanen also recorded a three-point performance against the Sharks to increase his point total to 20 (seven goals, 13 assists) in his past 15 games. The 21-year-old Finn aims to continue that stretch versus the Rangers, against whom he scored in Colorado's 4-2 win in the season opener. Captain Gabriel Landeskog also tallied in the first encounter with New York, but has yet to score a goal in January.
OVERTIME
1. New York C Mika Zibanejad scored two power-play goals in the season opener versus Colorado.
2. Avalanche RW Matt Nieto has scored in back-to-back contests to increase his point total to seven (five goals, two assists) in his past 10 games.
3. Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist has posted a .900 save percentage or better in each of his last 16 starts.