For the first time in nearly two months, the New York Rangers are riding a winning streak after an overtime home victory against the New Jersey Devils and a gritty 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

This marks their first back-to-back wins since a three-game streak from November 14-19, when they defeated the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks. Following that stretch, the Rangers endured a rough patch, going 4-15-0 in their next 19 games.

That turbulent period led to significant moves, including trading Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks and Kaapo Kakko to the Kraken. However, the team is starting to show signs of bouncing back as they navigate the competitive Eastern Conference wild-card race.

A key highlight of their resurgence came on Saturday when Adam Edstrom scored the game-winning goal with a tip-in, giving the fourth line its second consecutive game-winning contribution.

Edstrom’s effort in front of the net stood out on a night when Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves, backed by a more disciplined defense that kept the goalie from being overwhelmed—something that had plagued the team during their slump.

The Rangers (20-20-2) face another challenging matchup on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche (26-17-1), a team featuring the league’s top scorer, Nathan MacKinnon (68 points), and fourth-leading scorer, Mikko Rantanen (60 points). MacKinnon has recorded 13 points in his last nine games, while Rantanen recently tallied goals in five straight contests.

Colorado, with 53 points, trails the Winnipeg Jets in the Central Division by eight points and currently holds the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot. Known for their offensive power, the Avalanche are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the fifth-most goals in the league (146).

The Rangers, meanwhile, have shown marked improvement defensively, blocking 21 shots in each of their last two games. They’ve gone 4-1-1 in their last six, a small but encouraging sample that has shifted the team’s morale as they prepare for another tough test.

Like the Rangers, the Avalanche have also dealt with adversity this season. They stumbled early, losing their first four games and splitting their first 18 before finding their footing.

Over their last 18 games, Colorado has gone 13-5-0, including a dominant stretch of 10 wins in 12 games from December 7 to January 2. However, they’ve hit a minor rough patch recently, going 2-2-1 in their last five games, including a 3-0 loss to Winnipeg on Saturday, where they managed just 22 shots on goal.

As the Rangers continue to build momentum, Tuesday’s game against the Avalanche promises to be another key test in their fight for a playoff spot.

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Avalanche

1. Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil expected to return from injury absences

Chris Kreider appears likely to return to action after missing four games due to an upper-body injury.

Before being placed on injured reserve, Kreider had started to find his groove, netting his 13th goal of the season during a 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on January 4. He recorded points in three consecutive games for the first time this season, a positive sign after a challenging stretch from November 21 to December 28, during which he managed just three points across 13 games. That difficult period also included his name surfacing in general manager Chris Drury’s trade discussions, a three-game absence due to a back injury, and a healthy scratch on December 23 against New Jersey.

Meanwhile, Filip Chytil also participated in practice after missing two games with an upper-body injury sustained during the second period of last week’s game against the Dallas Stars. Although Chytil hasn’t confirmed his availability for Tuesday’s game, he clarified that his injury was not another concussion. In practice, he fully participated, centering the third line with Kreider and newcomer Arthur Kaliyev while also taking shifts on the second power-play unit.

Chytil has been in solid form recently, scoring goals in three of his last four games, including a two-goal performance against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 5. Both players’ returns could provide a significant boost to the team.

2. A resurgent Mika Zibanejad

The Rangers’ recent success can be attributed to stronger defensive play, but Mika Zibanejad’s offensive resurgence is also making a difference. Zibanejad assisted on Vincent Trocheck’s power-play goal on Saturday, contributing to his two goals and four assists during a modest six-game point streak.

Before this stretch, Zibanejad went through an eight-game slump without a point, during which the Rangers lost six times. Adding to their struggles, Zibanejad was on the ice for eight even-strength goals against, sparking discussions about whether he should be benched.

That narrative has shifted recently. On Tuesday, Zibanejad is expected to center a line with Will Cuylle and Reilly Smith on the wings, signaling renewed confidence in his play.

3. Somewhat familiar face in opposing goal

Had the Rangers faced the Avalanche earlier this season, they might have gone up against Alexandar Georgiev, a former backup to Henrik Lundqvist and Igor Shesterkin in New York.

Georgiev, who was traded to Colorado in July 2022 for three draft picks, initially excelled with the Avalanche, leading the NHL in wins during his first two seasons there. However, his performance dipped, with a .874 save percentage, leading to a trade to the San Jose Sharks for ex-Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.

Since joining the Avalanche, Blackwood has been impressive, boasting an 8-2-1 record with a 1.66 GAA across 11 games. Remarkably, he hasn’t allowed more than two goals in any of his appearances with Colorado.

During his time with the Devils, Blackwood struggled against the Rangers, going 6-9-0 with a 3.60 GAA and a .889 save percentage in 16 matchups.