Rangers Heating Up and Ready to Take on the Avalanche

The New York Rangers have had a rollercoaster season so far. After starting off strong at 12-4-1, they hit a rough patch late in 2024, losing 15 of their next 19 games. But the good news? They’re turning things around in 2025. With a 4-1-1 record this year and two straight wins, they’re rolling into Denver with some serious momentum for their matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

General Manager Chris Drury wasn’t about to sit back and watch the team struggle. In December, he made some bold moves, trading captain Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko in separate deals to shake up the roster. In return, the Rangers landed defensemen Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen, plus three draft picks. Both players have settled in nicely—Borgen is clocking 18:37 of ice time per game with a goal and an assist, while Vaakanainen has been solid, averaging 15:11.

But it’s not just the trades making the difference. Head coach Peter Laviolette says the team’s playing smarter hockey. “We’re playing a better brand of hockey right now,” Laviolette said after Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Golden Knights. “When you stick to doing the right things consistently, the wins follow.”

Artemi Panarin is still the guy, with 17 goals and 28 assists this season, and Adam Fox has been a rock on defense with 33 points. And let’s not forget Igor Shesterkin, who’s been holding it down in net with a 2.98 goals-against average.

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Avalanche Fighting Through Injuries but Staying Strong

On the other side, the Avalanche are proving they can take a hit and keep moving. They’ve been on fire since December, going 13-5-1, despite dealing with injuries to key players like Valeri Nichushkin, Samuel Girard, and Scott Wedgewood.

There’s hope on the horizon, though. Some of those players are making their way back. Jonathan Drouin has played in six of the last seven games, and Wedgewood has been activated off injured reserve. Coach Jared Bednar is cautiously optimistic. “There’s still some distance to go for those guys, but we’ll see how it goes,” Bednar said after Monday’s practice.

Of course, the team has leaned heavily on their big three—Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. MacKinnon leads the league in points with a ridiculous 68, Rantanen’s right up there with 60 (25 goals), and Makar is dominating the blue line with 49 points.

What to Watch For

This game is shaping up to be a good one. The Rangers are starting to click with their new lineup, while the Avalanche are thriving despite the adversity. It’s going to be a test of New York’s discipline versus Colorado’s star power.

Both teams have a lot to prove, and with playoff spots on the line, expect a high-energy showdown in Denver.