St. Louis Blues (23-24-4, in the Central Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2, in the Central Division) Denver; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues enter the matchup with the Colorado Avalanche after losing three games in a row.

The New York Islanders (22-20-7) won their fifth straight game and defeated the Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2) 5-2 on Tuesday night in UBS Arena.

It’s become a pattern now — the Colorado Avalanche look like the better team for the better part of the first 40 minutes and then the final period is a problem.

The Colorado Avalanche (29-20-2) close out their three-game road trip against the New York Islanders (21-20-7) on Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:38 p.m. MT. READ MORE: Did Mikko Rantanen Force Chris MacFarland’s Hand?

MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (77) and assists (58). Among NHL defensemen, Makar is first in goals (18), tied for first in points (56) and being for second in assists (38). Necas is seventh in the NHL in assists (41).

In nine games since his return, playing on the right side of an effective fourth line with Adam Edstrom on the left and Sam Carrick in the middle, there have been no extended elbows. Rempe has picked up three roughing minors and a fighting major.

The New York Rangers have one game in five days before a busy weekend as they try to bounce back from a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

Artturi Lehkonen scored a late goal against the Rangers for the second time this season and helped the Avalanche strengthen their grip on the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. \* The Sen

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tallied two goals and an assist during their victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon. Makar would score his first goal of the game in the afternoon on a snap shot.

The Rangers fell to the Avalanche 5-4 with 15 seconds left in regulation, and the point that got away could be costly.

The Rangers fell 5-4 to the Avalanche on Sunday. A goal with 14.7 seconds remaining. largely due to a lack of situation awareness creating the turnover and subsequent 3-on-1 breakout, gave Colorado the win.

Martin Necas had two assists, nearly scored twice himself and excelled on the top line. Jack Drury scored a goal and centered a new-look depth line while all 12 Avs forwards played more than 10 minutes, a departure from the usual top-heavy distribution.