Colorado Avalanche desperate to win against New York Rangers – NHL Preview
Although New York Rangers are leading National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference, they have failed to live up to the expectations this month.
Rangers will certainly qualify for the playoffs, but their inconsistent approach might hamper their progress in the postseason.
As they prepare to host Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, Rangers need to answer many questions.
As for Avalanche, they have worked very hard to reach the comfort zone in the Western Conference and they should get victory against Rangers if they want to retain their position and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Rangers
Rangers have played nine games this month and have only won four. Their recent defeat came against Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Rangers went neck and neck with Penguins in the first period where both teams scored apiece. However, Penguins added two goals in the second period while allowing only one.
Rangers conceded two more goals in the final period to lose the game.
Rangers’ defenseman, Marc Staal, said after the game:
"You always have to look at your own game and how you're playing. I thought certain plays could have had better reads and better decisions. With a skilled team like that, you have to be sharper in your end zone, and we weren't."
Rangers have 95 points after 70 games.
Avalanche
They have played nine games this month and lost four. Their recent defeat, that snapped their three-game winning run, came against New Jersey Devils.
Devils and Avalanche could not score in the regulation and after the goalless overtime, the game was forced to shootout where Devils scored twice to get the victory.
Avalanche’s goaltender, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, praised his Devils’ counterpart, Martin Brodeur, and said:
"I thought we did a good job of putting pucks on net and making it hard on him. It was difficult to play back-to-back games.”
He added:
"It could have gone either way. It was a good game. Give Marty credit for a good game, but we have no reason to put our heads down."
Avalanche are ranked at eighth spot in the Western Conference with 81 points after 73 games.
Predictions
A close encounter is on the cards, but Rangers can be favoured.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might exceed six.
If Avalanche win, the winning margin will be two or more goals.
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