The New York Rangers face off against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Here's a look at the projected lineups, considering recent performance and injury reports.

New York Rangers (10-9-2)

The Rangers have struggled recently, dropping their last two games. Their offense has been inconsistent, highlighted by a mere 19 shots in a recent loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Rangers currently sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division, outside of playoff contention. Injuries are also impacting the team, though key players have returned recently. The Rangers have been better on the road (9-2-1) than at home (1-7-1).

Here's the projected lineup:

• Forwards:

  • Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - J.T. Miller
  • Will Cuylle - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
  • Conor Sheary - Noah Laba - Jonny Brodzinski
  • Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Taylor Raddysh

• Defense:

  • Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
  • Carson Soucy - Braden Schneider
  • Matthew Robertson - Scott Morrow

• Goaltenders:

  • Igor Shesterkin (Expected Starter)
  • Jonathan Quick

Scratches: Urho Vaakanainen, Juuso Parssinen Injuries: Will Borgen (upper body), Matt Rempe (upper body)

Coach Mike Sullivan noted that Borgen's injury is something that the team will need to manage.

Colorado Avalanche (13-1-5)

The Avalanche are on a hot streak, winning their last six games and leading the NHL in points with 31. Their only regulation loss this season was on October 25th against the Boston Bruins. Colorado boasts a potent offense, leading the league with 78 goals scored. They are also stingy defensively, allowing a league-fewest 2.37 goals per game. The Avalanche are aiming to finish their current homestand with a perfect 4-0-0 record.

Here's the projected lineup:

• Forwards:

  • Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
  • Ross Colton - Brock Nelson - Gavin Brindley
  • Gabriel Landeskog - Jack Drury - Victor Olofsson
  • Parker Kelly - Zakhar Bardakov - Tristen Nielsen

• Defense:

  • Devon Toews - Cale Makar
  • Josh Manson - Brent Burns
  • Samuel Girard - Sam Malinski

• Goaltenders:

  • Scott Wedgewood (Confirmed Starter)
  • Mackenzie Blackwood

Scratches: Ilya Solovyov Injuries: Logan O'Connor (hip surgery), Joel Kiviranta (lower body), Valeri Nichushkin (lower body).

Logan O'Connor is week-to-week with a hip injury, Joel Kiviranta is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, and Valeri Nichushkin is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

Players to Watch

• Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche): MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (33) and is tied for the league lead in goals (14). He has recorded 13 points in his last five games.
• Cale Makar (Avalanche): Makar is tied for second in the league with 25 points among defensemen.
• Artemi Panarin (Rangers): Panarin leads the Rangers in points (19) and assists (14). He has recorded 9 points in his last five games.

Storylines to Watch

• Rangers' Offensive Struggles: Can the Rangers find a way to generate more consistent offense against a strong Avalanche defense?
• Avalanche's Dominance: Will the Avalanche continue their winning streak and maintain their position atop the NHL standings?
• MacKinnon vs. Panarin: A battle of star players, with MacKinnon leading the league in points and Panarin spearheading the Rangers' attack.

The Avalanche are heavy favorites heading into tonight's game, given their strong record and recent performance. The Rangers will need a strong performance from Shesterkin and improved offensive output to pull off an upset.