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Rangers look to extend win streak to three tonight against the Avalanche |
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New York looks to sweep their two-game road trip and extend their win streak to three in Colorado tonight. Fresh off wins over a struggling Blues team and Golden Knights squad without Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo, the Rangers face another team missing key players. The Avalanche were without five of their top-six forwards in their 4-0 loss to Boston, but could get one or two players back tonight. The Blueshirts need to take advantage of the opportunity provided tonight and avenge their 3-2 shootout loss on November 25.
The lineup tonight should be the same as Wednesday. Coach Gerard Gallant has historically been loath to make changes following a win. After a solid road win, he likely will be even more reluctant to make a change. Vitali Kravtsov and Libor Hajek should be healthy scratches again.
The only questions, as of the time this blog was submitted, are if Ryan Carpenter will pass through waivers and if the Rangers will claim Kevin Rooney, At $1.3 million this year and next, Rooney should be a hard pass. That's despite him fitting in well, especially down the stretch, and the universal praise he seems to have gotten from the media for his role on the team last season and how well he meshed with his teammates. In a cap constrained world, the extra 500K spent on him could be better used elsewhere, though I wouldn't be shocked if he is claimed by New York. (update: Carpenter and Rooney cleared waivers)
Coming into the game tonight, Nathan MacKinnon remains out as he will be sidelined 4-5 weeks with an upper-body injury suffered earlier in the week. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is on the shelf until at least January as he recovers from knee surgery. Evan Rodrigues, sidelined since Nov. 26 with a lower-body injury, could be back next week but will be out tonight.
On Thursday, Avs coach Jared Bednar indicated that either Valeri Nichuskin, out since Oct. 25 with an undisclosed injury, or Darren Helm, who has not played all year, could return tonight. Another possibility to dress is forward Arturri Lehkonen, who missed Monday's game. On defense, both Josh Manson and Bowen Byram are on injured reserve, further evidencing the raft of injuries the defending Stanley Cup champions have endured.
Following tonight;s game, the Rangers return home to face the Devils and Maple Leafs. Both games will be measuring contests, especially against New Jersey, who waxed New York last week. Toronto is 17-5-6 on the year bolstered by the fine goaltending play of Matt Murray and ilya Samsonov, something not expected when the season began.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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