Efficient all-around game for the Avalanche on Tuesday in their 2-1 win in New Jersey.
Can they do it again Thursday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden? They catch a bit of a break because the Rangers play Wednesday in Brooklyn against the rival Islanders.
Matt Duchene and Tyson Barrie scored second-period goals, which proved plenty for goalie Reto Berra, who stopped 27 shots to end a personal four-game losing streak.
Duchene, who scored an Avalanche record 11 goals in November, continued his hot pace with a blast off the glove of goalie Cory Schneider, and Barrie converted Jack Skille's pass with a shot past Schneider's right shoulder.
The Avalanche squandered a chance to make it 3-0 late in the period when they failed to take advantage of a 96-second 5-on-3 power play but held on after the Devils cut their deficit to 2-1 early in the third on a Kyle Palmieri goal.
Berra lowered his goals-against average to 2.26 and raised his save percentage to .927. He should start Thursday against the Rangers. Semyon Varlamov, who has a 3.28 average and .887 save percentage, has allowed three or more goals in 11 of his 14 games.
"I love the fact Reto makes it a competition," coach Patrick Roy told reporters. "This is how we will get back in the playoff race. We need solid goaltending and we're aware of that. But we still have a lot of confidence in Varly and we're confident he'll bounce back as well."
The Avalanche (10-14-1) are seven points behind Minnesota for the second wild card playoff position in the West, and they play the Wild Saturday and Monday in a home-and-home mini-series.
"Obviously, it would be nice to keep it rolling," Duchene said. "We need to put a little streak together here because we're kind of win-lose, win-lose right now. We have to see if we can get a win on Thursday and hopefully a win on Saturday too (to end the road trip)."
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John Mitchell played Tuesday after missing 12 of the previous 14 games with an oblique injury. He logged 16:34 in ice time and had two shots on goal.
Roy said after the game that he expects Alex Tanguay to play Thursday. Tanguay has missed 11 games since sustaining a knee injury Nov. 6 in a home game against the Rangers.
The Avalanche needed to clear a roster spot for Tanguay, who has been on injured reserve, and the Denver Post reported that Andrew Agozzino was sent back to San Antonio of the AHL. Doesn't seem like the guy will ever get a legitimate chance to stick with Colorado.