Short takes
• Look out for the Avalanche. Before hosting the Rangers on Saturday, Colorado had run off eight consecutive victories — its longest since another eight-game run Dec.31, 2005-Jan. 17, 2006. It already has surpassed its win and point totals from last season. The Avalanche's rise supports the theory that the Central Division is the toughest in the league, as each team has at least 20 wins and 50 points before the All-Star break.
• Debate ensued after Ducks winger Andrew Cogliano was recently suspended two games, ending his ironman streak. Cogliano had played 830 consecutive games, never sitting out since he made his NHL debut in 2007. His run was the fourth-longest in NHL history, and Cogliano was 134 games shy of tying the league record. Considering the magnitude of Cogliano's accomplishment and the fact he had never been suspended before in his career, the interference call came under scrutiny — although the lateness of the hit and contact to the head were clear.
• The injury bug keeps stinging the Rangers. With defenseman Marc Staal and forwards Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider already sidelined, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will be out indefinitely because of a meniscus tear in his left knee. New York has been able to remain in pursuit of a playoff spot amid these absences; it held on to a wild-card spot entering Friday's slate of games, but losing a lineup mainstay in Shattenkirk certainly hurts.
