Three Takeaways From Avalanche's 5-4 Win Over New York Rangers

The Colorado Avalanche ended a three-game losing streak Sunday by beating a white-hot New York Rangers team by a 5-4 score. It was the Avs' first win after their blockbuster trade that sent star right winger Mikko Rantanen to Carolina and brought in forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury from the Hurricanes, and Colorado's new acquisitions factored into the victory over the Rangers.

Here are three key takeaways from the Avalanche's win:

1. Avs Blow Pair Of Two-Goal Leads But Bend And Don't Break, Pulling Out Win Over Blueshirts With Ony 15 Seconds Left In Regulation Time

The Avalanche began Sunday's game with a 2-0 lead over the Blueshirts, but Colorado then allowed the Rangers to pull even. The same pattern developed after that, with the Avs pulling out to a 4-2 advantage with 3:59 left in the second period, only to have the Rangers even the score with 4:58 left in regulation time.

However -- and in spite of only generating three shots on goal in the final frame -- the Avalanche got the game-winning marker from forward Artturi Lehkonen with only 15 seconds left in the third. The Avs improved to 29-20-2 on the season with Sunday's win, and their resilience has to be encouraging for Colorado fans who were concerned with their three-game losing skid.

This victory showed a lot of guts on the Avalanche's behalf, and as they move into a relatively-lighter part of their schedule (with games against the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers), they need to be better at holding a lead and keeping their foot on the gas. But every win counts, and Sunday's win showed great character.

2. New Avalanche Players Contribute Meaningfully In Win Over Rangers

This was Colorado's second game in the post-Rantanen Era, and while new Avalanche forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury failed to produce any offense in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, both Necas and Drury contributed meaningfully in Sunday's win. Drury scored the game's first goal (and his fourth of the season), while Necas added a pair of assists (his 40th and 41st helpers of the year) to help the Avs secure the win against the Rangers.

Related: Reports: Avalanche Deal Star Winger Rantanen In Stunning, Three-Team Blockbuster Trade

Certainy, the Avalanche will miss what Rantanen brought to the table, but if Necas can continue to generate the way he did in Sunday's win -- and if Drury can chip in with a little bit of offense -- the Avs will be happy to move forward with them. Rantanen is still the most talented player involved in Friday's blockbuster deal, but depth matters in any team's playoff push, and getting relatively immediate help from Necas and Drury takes some of the sting away from moving on from Rantanen.

3. Makar Continues Stunning Season, Pots Pair Of Goals Against Rangers

Superstar blueliner Cale Makar once again was a driving force in an Avalanche win, putting up two goals -- his 17th and 18th of the season -- as well as the only assist on Lehkonen's game-winner. Makar now is on pace for a 29-goal, 90-point season -- a pace that will allow him to break or tie his current career highs in those categories -- and he's making a great case to win another Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman.

Related: Avalanche Star's Latest Record-Setting Feat Underscores His Hockey Hall-Of-Fame Path

Along with superstar center Nathan MacKinnon, Makar is the straw that stirs the drink in Denver, and he's still only 26 years old. Somehow, the best is yet to come for Makar, and Sunday's win is the latest example of all the ways he can help his team beat an opponent.