With Henrik Lundqvist out for a while due to a sprained blood vessel, the Rangers are down to Cam Talbot. So far, the results have been mixed. In four starts, the 27-year old backup is 2-1-1 with a 3.01 goals-against-average and .882 save percentage. Tonight at Colorado, he’ll make his fifth consecutive start.

That isn’t good enough. Granted, the defense continues to play inconsistently in front of him. Talbot has given up some questionable goals from long range. Opponents are going high. Something the Stars and Leafs were able to do with some success. He needs to challenge more and cut down the angles.

With no one in the Metro Division losing, the Rangers enter a critical stretch. After visiting Colorado tonight, they travel to Arizona Saturday before another crucial game at the Islanders on Monday. They then get a couple of days off before returning to MSG to host Vancouver and then visit Buffalo for a back-to-back.

At what point does 20-year old prospect MacKenzie Skapski make his NHL debut? They can’t just rely on Talbot when he’s never done it before. Eventually, he’ll need a breather. Do they put their trust in Skapski, who’s performed respectably for Hartford winning 12 games with a 2.38 GAA, .914 save percentage and two shutouts in his first pro year? With the Sabres dealing Jhonas Enroth to Dallas yesterday, there aren’t many goalie options.

For now, the Rangers will put their faith in Talbot. What he’s discovering is that it’s a lot harder to be the man. The team needs to tighten up in front of him. The win at Toronto was as ugly as it gets. They were sloppy in coverage and turnovers. That won’t cut it against better competition.

Neither will Martin St. Louis’ scoring slump. Without a point in three straight, the 39-year old veteran has no goals over his last 13 with five assists. The former Hart and Stanley Cup winner is playing for a contract. With Mats Zuccarello also unrestricted and Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin due raises as Group II’s, the pressure is on St. Louis to perform.

Team President and GM Glen Sather has some tough decisions to make. Does he make a deal to bolster the team’s center weakness and lack of depth? Sixth defenseman is also a concern with neither Matt Hunwick or John Moore proving capable.

One player the Rangers won’t be trading for is Martin Hanzal. The Coyotes two-way center is out for the season facing back surgery. Arizona Central reporter Sarah McLellan has more on that.

The Coyotes still have Antoine Vermette available but the cost might be too steep. If they want a good prospect, a first round pick which the Rangers don’t have and another player for a rental, it doesn’t make much sense. Maybe they’ll go after Leafs center Mike Santorelli instead. He’s cheaper making $1.5 million in the final year and shouldn’t cost as much. Obviously, Vermette’s better dominating on faceoffs (56.3 percent) while producing similar numbers.

With less than three weeks until the March 2 deadline, things should continue to heat up.