The Avalanche continues its trip through the Metropolitan Division Tuesday to face the Rangers at Madison Square Garden following Monday's 2-1 come-from-behind overtime win in New Jersey.
The Avalanche has played remarkably well on the road, fashioning a 17-7-2 record with six wins in the past seven away from the Pepsi Center. Colorado also has won four of six games when playing on back-to-back nights. The Avalanche has won four games in a row overall and nine of the past 11.
Semyon Varlamov will be back in goal following Jean-Sebastien Giguere's 27-save effort against the Devils. Giguere, by the way, has stopped 46 of 48 shots in his past two appearances. which included a relief job against Toronto. The win was his first since Dec. 6.
Varlamov has been on a tear with a 12-1-1 record in his past 14 decisions. He's 2-1-1 in his career against the Rangers despite rather poor numbers: 3.33 goals-against average and .878 save percentage.
Varlamov will have to be better than that against a Rangers team that finally has found its form, going 10-4-1 in January and 7-3-1 in the past 11 home games to improve to 13-13-3 on home ice for the season.
The Rangers are second in the Metropolitan Division with 63 points in 56 games, which would put them fifth in the Central. The Avalanche has 77 points in 55 games -- five behind first-place Chicago (82 points in 58 games) and two behind second-place St. Louis (79 points in 54 games). The Blues are home Tuesday against Ottawa.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has returned to his usual form, limiting teams to two goals or fewer in nine of his past 10 games. He's 8-2-0 in this stretch with a 1.50 goals-against average and .951 save percentage. But he's 1-3-1 in his career against the Avalanche with a 2.89 average and .900 save percentage.
The Avalanche will have to watch forward Rick Nash closely. He has 11 goals in the past 13 games and leads the Rangers with 18 goals despite missing 17 games with injuries.
The Avalanche didn't skate Tuesday morning, so it won't be known until game time if either Paul Stastny (ankle) or Alex Tanguay (knee) will play. The team didn't call up anyone from Lake Erie, so coach Patrick Roy would only have 11 forwards again if Stastny and Tanguay miss their third consecutive game.
If that's the case, PA Parenteau will be back on a line with Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. Parenteau scored the tying goal Monday with 1:47 left in regulation after getting an assist Saturday against Buffalo.
Parenteau needs one point for 200 in his career, while Matt Duchene still needs a goal to hit the century mark for his career ... Landeskog has two goals and six assists in a six-game point-scoring streak ... MacKinnon has three goals and five assists in a five-game streak ... Tyson Barrie has two goals and four assists in a five-game streak.
Barring the return of Stastny or Tanguay, this is how the Avalanche lineup will look:
FORWARDS Ryan O'Reilly -- Matt Duchene -- Jamie McGinn Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- PA Parenteau Cody McLeod -- John Mitchell -- Max Talbot Marc-Andre Cliche -- Patrick Bordeleau
DEFENSE Jan Hejda -- Erik Johnson Andre Benoit -- Nate Guenin Nick Holden -- Tyson Barrie Ryan Wilson
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Jean-Sebastien Giguere