Monday's games

Colorado (3-2-0) at N.Y. Rangers (1-1-1), 7 p.m. EDT, Versus

John-Michael Liles has seven assists in five games. Avalanche fans are stunned by this development.

The Rangers, who for some reason have played only three games (most teams who opened in North America are up to five, or at least four; every other Atlantic Division team has played either five or six), will find their next few games a little tougher now that Marian Gaborik suffered a separated shoulder and is out at least two weeks. Chris Drury is also out, for a longer time, and while that'll be a significant defensive loss, Drury hasn't had any offense since he left Buffalo.

I just looked it up. Drury's career-high for points in a season is 69. And New York is paying him over $7 million. No wonder the Rangers suck.

Ottawa (1-3-1) at Pittsburgh (3-3-0), 7 p.m.

We won a game yesterday. We win one today, that's two in a row. We win one tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before.

R.I.P. Lou Brown.

The Penguins look to win their second home game of the season and have a (on paper) favorable opponent, as the Senators have struggled in just about every facet of hockey. Pittsburgh has won its last two games, with the offense and Sidney Crosby finally coming to life in Philadelphia Saturday. Crosby doubled his point total for the season with a three-point night, including two power play goals. Brent Johnson is causing a stir in the 'burgh as he's out-playing Marc-Andre Fleury by a long shot.

Paper is paper, and Ottawa has given Pittsburgh fits over the years. There's a healthy rivalry brewed by three postseason meetings in the last four seasons and overlooking anyone in the NHL these days is a bad move.

N.Y. Islanders (2-1-2) at Toronto (4-0-0), 7 p.m.

Josh Bailey is emerging as an offensive talent for New York, and what's best about it is he's elevated his game in the time John Tavares was out. Tavares is back and scored an empty net goal in New York's win over Colorado. Dwayne Roloson has been excellent between the pipes for a frisky Islanders team that might not go away any time soon.

Speaking of friskiness, the Maple Leafs are still undefeated, one of only two teams who can lay stake to that claim. (The other? Dallas.) I don't know how the hell they're doing it. Other than Clarke MacArthur has become a goal-scoring machine and Jean-Sebastien Giguere is revitalized.

Dallas (4-0-0) at Tampa Bay (3-1-0), 7: 30 p.m.

And here are those Stars. Brad Richards is leading this team, with nine points, Brenden Morrow is scoring at a goal-per-game pace, as is Loui Eriksson, and Kari Lehtonen has stayed healthy. Not just that but playing really well, with a .932 save percentage. He's started every game.

The Lightning's undefeated record done got blow'd the eff up to the tune of a 6-0 thrashing by (no, not the Thrashers) the Panthers. Defense and/or goaltending appears to be an issue for Tampa Bay, as the team has given up at least three goals in three games so far.

St. Louis (2-1-1) at Chicago (3-2-1), 8:30 p.m.

Paging Dr. Keith, paging Dr. Keith. The 2010-11 season has begun. Thank you. Dude's averaging 29:58 of ice time per game, seriously, yet has only two points, both assists. Fortunately for Chicago, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa have carried the load while the other stars (including Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane) have gotten off to slow starts. Still don't know who the goalie's going to be. When have I said that before about this team?

The Blues have lost two straight after winning their first two. Some of their young building blocks (David Perron, Erik Johnson) need to start stepping up their game. Jaroslav Halak is playing well.