Avalanche at Rangers preview

AVALANCHE (3-1-1) at RANGERS (1-4-0)
7 p.m. ET; MSG, ALT, NHL.TV

MacKinnon (six goals) has scored in each of Colorado's first five games, matching the record set by Mats Sundin with the Nordiques in 1992-93.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov will likely start for the Avalanche, who begin a four-game road trip.
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start for the Rangers, who have scored two regulation goals or fewer in four of their past five games.

Players to watch

Varlamov has allowed seven goals on 130 shots this season (.946 save percentage).
New York defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who was selected by Colorado in the first round (No. 14) of the 2007 NHL Draft, has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 26 games against the Avalanche.

They said it

"The start that he's having as the season wears on, it's just a matter of time before he starts getting a little bit more credit. But I think if you talk to his opponents and teams that are coaching and playing against him, I think that they understand that he's an extremely dangerous player." -- Avalanche coach Jared Bednar on Nathan MacKinnon
"You've got to have will to your offensive game and you've got to have it for 60 minutes. It can't be every now and then. If you passed up 10 chances to go to the net, I guarantee if you go to the net on 10 straight chances something good is going to happen. A goal might come from that. A goal will come from that. That's something we've got to be better at." -- Rangers coach David Quinn

Avalanche projected lineup

Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Alex Kerfoot -- Tyson Jost -- Colin Wilson
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Matt Calvert
Vladislav Kamenev -- Sheldon Dries -- Gabriel Bourque
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Ian Cole -- Tyson Barrie
Nikita Zadorov -- Patrik Nemeth
Semyon Varlamov
Philipp Grubauer
Scratched:Mark Barberio
Injured:Sven Andrighetto (leg), J.T. Compher (concussion)

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jesper Fast
Filip Chytil -- Kevin Hayes -- Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey -- Brett Howden -- Vladislav Namestnikov
Cody McLeod -- Ryan Spooner -- Vinni Lettieri
Brady Skjei -- Neal Pionk
Marc Staal -- Brendan Smith
Fredrik Claesson -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched:Adam McQuaid, Tony DeAngelo, Pavel Buchnevich
Injured:Matt Beleskey (shoulder), Boo Nieves (concussion)

Status report

The Avalanche acquired forward Marko Dano off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Dano is not with them because of immigration issues. ... The Rangers did not hold a morning skate. … Chytil, who had been centering the fourth line, moved to left wing on the second line during practice Monday. … Buchnevich could be scratched for McLeod.

Stat pack

Lundqvist has stopped 122 of 130 shots. He has a 2.03 goals-against average and .938 save percentage and this season. ... Rantanen has a five-game point streak (one goal, seven assists).