Rangers at Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have one last chance to avoid going winless at home for the month of December, but they will face a tough task against the New York Rangers on Saturday night. The skidding Avalanche have dropped nine in a row at home (0-8-1), including an 0-6-0 mark at Pepsi Center this month, and own the fewest points (25) in the league.
"We just got to keep going, keep digging in and try to win some hockey games," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said following a 4-2 loss in Dallas on Thursday, the team's 14th loss in 17 games (3-13-1). The Avalanche also have the NHL's worst home record at 4-12-1 and will be facing an opponent that comes to town with a league-best 12 road wins. The Rangers have won the first two games following the holiday break and kicked off their brief two-game road trip with a 6-3 victory at Arizona on Thursday. The game will feature the only two Norwegian-born players in the NHL -- Colorado's Andreas Martinsen and New York's Mats Zuccarello, who is tied for second on the Rangers with 27 points.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG2 (New York), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (25-12-1): Matt Puempel, claimed off waivers from Ottawa in November, sparked the victory at Arizona with a hat trick -- with all the goals coming via the power play. “I’ve got to wake up from my dream here,” said Puempel, a former first-round draft selection. “Coming from Kanata, Ontario to New York City, it’s been a real life-changer on and off the ice. I’ve enjoyed every second." Defenseman Nick Holden, who played for Colorado the previous three seasons, has three goals and four points in the last two games.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (12-22-1): Bednar reported after Friday's practice that Semyon Varlamov is making "progress" from a groin injury that sidelined him for the past three games, but the veteran netminder is still a few days away from returning. "He skated a little bit yesterday on his own," Bednar said. "Today he is doing something different. Over the next couple days he'll be back out there. He's feeling better though." Matt Duchene scored his team-high 13th goal Thursday but only two have come at home.
OVERTIME
1. Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist missed the last two games due to the flu but could return Saturday.
2. Colorado is 0-for-22 on the power play in the last five games and 1-for-34 over the last eight.
3. New York's line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Zuccarello has six goals and nine assists in the last three games.