More questions than answers before Avalanche game

With all the injuries and the Rangers' reluctance to detail them as the season winds down, a lot of questions about the lineup tonight---and in the future---remain.

Here's what we know for sure: Henrik Lundqvist, over the flu, will play for the first time in threee games against Colorado.

Ryan Callahan, who missed the last three games after an aborted return from a bruised and swollen left foot, will play. He's not wearing the walking boot anymore, but will kkep a protective plastic "fender" on his boot.

Tim Erixon, summoned after the Whale's game last night, skated this morning, and I'd be shocked if he didn't dress, putting 2 and 2 together. First of all, why call him up to watch? And second, Steve Eminger (hurt) and Michael Del Zotto(hip) didn't skate in the optional. And Jeff Woywitka and Anton Stralman stayed out on the ice working with coaches and Martin Biron.

John Scott, acquired on the trade deadline, was wearing a blue forwards jersey, but could be moved to his natural position on defense, I suppose. The assumption is that Girardi, McDonagh, Bickel and Staal are in, along with Erixon. But No. 6????

Upfront, it certainly appears that Artem Anisimov (left shoulder) is out, but Ruslan Fedotenko is expected to play after missing yesterday's practice with the flu. Mats Zuccarello also skated.

Here's some thoughts from Erixon, 21, about the adjustment to the A:

"I feel like I've improved (since his four-game stint here in December)...I'm  working on the same things and learning the system. ...I want to be more aggressive. I feel more comfortable with that. I feel stronger."

"it’s been really good," said Erixon, who was named the No. 17 prospect overall by The Hockey News and who scored his third goal of the season last night against Bridgeport to go with 30 assists in 43 games. "You’ve got to adjust a little bit. It’s a big difference, the big ice and the small ice. It’s a different game, basically.”