A pair of teams that are expected to be contenders for the Stanley Cup this season do battle on the ice in the Big Apple. The Colorado Avalanche are on the road as they make the trip to the east coast to face the New York Rangers Tuesday night. Colorado earned a 3-2 road victory over Vegas in their previous contest Saturday night. New York struggled without star goaltender Igor Shesterkin as they were drubbed 5-1 by Columbus at home Sunday in their most recent contest. In the last 10 meetings, the Avalanche own a 6-3-1 advantage and have won the last three meetings. That includes a 4-2 home victory in the most recent meeting on December 14, 2021.
Colorado had dropped three of their previous four games before knocking off Vegas on the road Saturday night in their most recent contest. The Avalanche climbed to 3-2-1 on the year and was second in the Central Division, two points behind Dallas for the division lead. Colorado comes into this one tied for 8th in the league in goals per game as they average 3.67 goals a night. The Avalanche are tied for 16th in goals against as they allow an average of 3.17 goals a contest. Colorado is 1st in the league with the man advantage as they convert a blistering 52.9% of their chances with the man advantage. The Avalanche are a miserable 31st in penalty killing as they successfully get through 60.9% of their shorthanded situations on the year.
In their clash with Vegas, Colorado got a solid showing in their own end, which meant an average offensive night was enoug h to deliver the two points. The Avalanche held a 10-5 edge in shots on goal in the opening period though they skated to the dressing room tied at one after 20 minutes of play. Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring with his third goal of the season, on the power play, at 5:38 off assists from Cale Makar and Artturi Lehkonen. They gave up the equalizer later in the stanza. In the second period, Colorado was outshot 16-11 but scored the lone goal of the stanza to take a one-goal advantage to the dressing room. Evan Rodrigues gave the Avalanche the lead with his second of the season, on the power play, at 6:20 with assists going to Samuel Girard and Bowen Byram. In the third period, Colorado was outshot 14-4 with each team scoring once to leave them up a goal at the final horn. Valeri Nicushkin gave the Avalanche a 3-1 lead with his sixth goal of the season at 8:10 off an assist from Erik Johnson. Vegas drew within a goal less than three minutes later but Colorado held them off the rest of the way for the win. Alexandar Georgiev made 33 saves for the Avalanche, who were outshot 35-25, in the victory. He’s expected to face his former team in this contest.