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Avs host Rangers, shoot for perfect homestand

Nov 19, 2010 - 4:26 PM (Sports Network) - A perfect homestand would give the Colorado Avalanche their first three-game winning streak of the season. They'll try to accomplish that feat and continue their recent dominance of the New York Rangers with tonight's battle at the Pepsi Center.

After picking up a victory over the Blues to begin this three-game homestand on Monday, the Avalanche won back-to-back games for the first time since Oct. 28 and the 30 when they knocked off the Sharks, 4-3, in overtime on Wednesday. Colorado erased a two-goal deficit on third-period goals from Chris Stewart and Paul Stastny before Kevin Porter notched the game-winner 2:07 into overtime.

"It was an awesome play by [Porter]," Stastny said on the game-winning goal. "He was just flying with the puck. He beats the [defenseman] wide, then the goalie comes out and he just beat him low."

Rookie defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored his first NHL goal and Peter Budaj made 40 saves in his 10th straight start, improving to 6-3-1 since No. 1 netminder Craig Anderson suffered a knee injury. Anderson though is nearing his return and the Avalanche sent backup goaltender John Grahame back to Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, meaning Anderson should be in uniform tonight.

It is unknown if Anderson will be able to start tonight or in Dallas tomorrow when Colorado kicks off a three-game road trip. The Avs have won three straight and four of five at home, where they are 5-4-0 this season.

Anderson made 31 saves when the Avalanche recorded a 3-1 victory in New York on Oct. 18, their eighth victory in their last 10 meetings with the Rangers. Anderson is 3-1-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average lifetime versus the Blueshirts, while Budaj is 1-1-0 with a 4.82 GAA against them.

Stewart, who leads Colorado with 11 goals and 22 points, scored twice versus the Rangers and has two goals and six points in his last five games.

The Avalanche did not face Rangers forward Marian Gaborik in that earlier meeting as he was sidelined with a separated shoulder. Gaborik notched a hat trick the last time he faced Colorado, a 3-1 victory in Denver last season, and has 19 goals and 34 points in 39 career games versus the club.

Gaborik has four goals and an assist in four games since returning from his injury and scored in Wednesday's 3-2 setback to the Bruins. Brandon Dubinsky had the other goal, giving him eight goals and 14 points in his last 14 games.

Henrik Lundqvist was outdueled in net by the Bruins' Tim Thomas, yielding three goals on 20 shots as New York had its three-game win streak halted.

"He came up with some big saves," Callahan said of Thomas. "At the same time, we have to get some more chances. They kept us on the perimeter pretty well. I thought they played pretty tight, but we have to find a way to get some more pucks to the net."

New York, which has dropped five of its last six in Colorado, is playing two straight and five of its next six on the road and is a solid 6-2-0 as the visiting club this season.

Lundqvist made 31 saves in the earlier loss to the Avalanche that dropped him to 1-1-1 with a 2.68 GAA lifetime when facing them.