Avalanche at Rangers
THE STORY: The Colorado Avalanche make a rare trip to the Big Apple to take on the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers on Saturday. The contest is the only meeting between the inter-conference clubs. The Avalanche have taken nine of the last 11 matches with the Rangers. New York trails the St. Louis Blues by three points in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy, while Colorado is clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ALTITUDE (Colorado), MSG 2 (New York)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (38-30-5): The Avalanche are 1-0-1 on its three-game road trip. Colorado has gone past regulation in each of its last four games and is 9-2 in the shootout. Forward Chuck Kobasew is listed as questionable for Saturday. He has missed the last nine games with a back injury he suffered in practice on Feb. 29. Left wing Gabriel Landeskog is making a push for the Calder Trophy. The second overall pick leads all rookies with 20 goals and 46 points.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (44-19-7): The Rangers are 2-1-0 on their season-high seven-game homestand and have lost four of their last six overall. New York is battling numerous injuries and has been without goaltender Henrik Lundqvist for the past two games because of the flu. The netminder is probable for Saturday. Captain Ryan Callahan (foot) and defenseman Michael Del Zotto (hip) are day-to-day. Rookie Carl Hagelin has two goals and three assists in his last two games and forward Brad Richards has five tallies and five helpers during a five-game point scoring streak.
OVERTIME:
1. Avalanche forward Jamie McGinn has seven goals and two assists in nine games since he was acquired from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline.
2. The Rangers are 20-1-4 when scoring a power-play goal; 24-18-3 when they don't.
3. New York has won its last eight Saturday games.