KEY POINTS

  • Avalanche hit with another injury
  • Nathan MacKinnon's status remains uncertain
  • Colorado continues to fight despite the injury bug

The Colorado Avalanche’s season could be summed up as an injury-plagued year. And just when they thought their health miseries have already reached its pinnacle, the team took their biggest hit yet when Nathan MacKinnon went down with a lower-body injury on Monday, making it seven players in Colorado’s injured list. The Avalanche will try to get the most of their remaining manpower when they host the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

New York Rangers

The Rangers are keeping their head above water as they place themselves to within two points from the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Dallas that also gave them their second win in three games. Mika Zibanejad is putting up monstrous numbers over his last five games as he scored 10 goals to become the fastest player in franchise history to score 40 goals in 56 games or fewer. Artemi Panarin, who is the team’s leader in points, sustains his top-notch efficiency this year with 94 points on 32 goals and 62 assists while having a plus-35 rating which is the second-best in the NHL.

Colorado Avalanche

Colorado’s bench was left holding their breath when MacKinnon hit the ground midway the second period in their game against the Kings in Los Angeles which ended in a 3-1 loss. The status of MacKinnon, a Hart Trophy contender, remains uncertain as he joins Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, Matt Calvert, Cale Makar and prized netminder Philipp Grubauer on the sidelines. Colorado continues to fight through adversity, keeping themselves in a decent position in the Central Division where they trail the St. Louis Blues by just two points at the top of the ladder.

Odds and Trends

Despite having to play sans their key guys, the Avalanche are still pegged as favorites at home with a -155 game-winner price based on the NHL Betting Lines, whereas the Rangers are offered at +135.

The Rangers are 7-0 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 5-0 in their last 5 Wednesday games.

The Avalanche are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference and 6-1 in their last 7 Wednesday games.

Over is 4-0 in Rangers last 4 games following a win.

Under is 4-0 in Avalanche last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.

Prediction

​Avalanche win, 3-1.

Marc Staal New York Rangers
New York Ranger Marc Staal inadvertently hit MSG reporter John Giannone with the puck Thursday. Reuters