Avalanche coach Patrick Roy isn't necessarily finished experimenting with line combinations with center Matt Duchene out because of his knee injury, but he's going to keep Nathan MacKinnon at right wing with Gabriel Landeskog and Paul Stastny for Thursday night's game against the New York Rangers at the Pepsi Center.
MacKinnon replaced Duchene on the line with Ryan O'Reilly and Jamie McGinn for two periods Tuesday in Columbus, but he went back to what has been a highly-effective unit with Landeskog and Stastny after the Avalanche fell behind 2-0, and the team pulled out a 3-2 overtime win.
"We've built a lot of chemistry and have had some success," MacKinnon said after the morning skate Thursday. "I think I've been with those guys since Christmas and I feel like the three of us can really help the team win. We scored some goals after he put us back together in Columbus. We played pretty well."
The trio combined for two goals and three assists against the Blue Jackets. Landeskog had two goals, including one in overtime, while MacKinnon had two assists and Stastny one assist.
"The best part of playing center is playing down low. I love playing in the D-zone and battling with guys in the corners, especially this time of year because it's pretty physical," MacKinnon said. "I definitely enjoy that, but at the same time playing on the wall (as a right wing) is less physical, I guess you could say, but you have to be more aware of things.
"We hope he doesn't have to shuffle guys. We want everyone to be going. It might take a couple games to get some chemistry going from all four lines, but in the end it's going to be worth it."
Right wing PA Parenteau, recovering from his knee injury, took part in the morning skate and looked pretty good. He's also walking without a limp.
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Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for the Avalanche with a chance to tie Roy's franchise record of 24 home wins set in 2000-01. Varlamov has a 23-9-3 record at home and with a career-high 38 wins is two shy of the franchise record Roy also set in 2000-01.
"I was thinking of not playing him," Roy joked. "Hopefully he does it. Hopefully he's going to tie it tonight and pass (the home record) against Pittsburgh (on Sunday). I'd be very happy."
Varlamov also is scheduled to start Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. Roy said Jean-Sebastien Giguere would start next Tuesday in Edmonton, Varlamov would start April 8 in Vancouver and Reto Berra would start April 11 in San Jose. No decision has been made about the April 13 regular-season finale in Anaheim.
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Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh won't play against the Avalanche because of a shoulder injury he sustained Tuesday against Vancouver. John Moore, who has missed six games to recover from a concussion, will replace McDonagh in the lineup.
McDonagh, who is listed as day to day, is among the NHL's top-scoring defensemen with 14 goals and 29 assists in 77 games, and he averages 24:49 in ice time.
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday he doesn't expect McDonagh to miss too much time.
"His 25 minutes are big minutes against big lines and on the power play and penalty killing, so we're going to try and spread those minutes around and I'm confident our group will be able to get the job done," Vigneault said.
Moore has three goals and 10 assists in 69 games.
"It's tough to lose a guy like Mac, but I can't really worry about that," he said. "I only worry about what I can control, and that's how I play tonight."
The Rangers have won seven of their past eight games and have gone 25-14-0 on the road. They're second in the Metropolitan Division and close to clinching a spot in the playoffs. They lead third-place Philadelphia by three points (90-87) but have played two more games.
The Avalanche is second in the Central Division, has clinched a postseason berth and has won four consecutive games. Colorado leads third-place Chicago by three points (102-99) and has a game in hand. The Blackhawks are home Thursday against Minnesota.
Here's the Avalanche lineup (other than Berra and Ryan Wilson, not sure about the other scratch):
FORWARDS Gabriel Landeskog - Paul Stastny - Nathan MacKinnon Ryan O'Reilly - John Mitchell - Jamie McGinn Cody McLeod - Max Talbot - Patrick Bordeleau Paul Carey - Marc-Andre Cliche - Brad Malone
DEFENSE Jan Hejda -- Erik Johnson Andre Benoit -- Cory Sarich/Nate Guenin Nick Holden - Tyson Barrie
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Jean-Sebastien Giguere