Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Records first regulation loss
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Blackwood made 36 saves on 41 attempts on goal in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Islanders.
Blackwood got off on the wrong foot in Thursday's contest as he allowed the first four goals of the contest through 28 minutes. With the loss, he now has a 6-1-1 record with a 2.28 GAA and a .920 save percentage through eight appearances this season. The 28-year-old netminder was off to an elite start this season, with Thursday's loss ending his six-game win streak. Blackwood has shown flashes of greatness with a shutout in a quarter of his appearances this season, but will likely have his ceiling in fantasy limited while operating in a tandem with Scott Wedgewood. Regardless, Blackwood should be rostered in all fantasy formats while the Avalanche remain atop the Central Division standings. His next opportunity to bounce back is Saturday across the state of New York for a tilt with the Rangers.
Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Guarding crease versus Islanders
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Blackwood will start on the road against the Islanders on Thursday, per Brian Compton of NHL.com.
Blackwood has won six straight games after losing in a shootout against the Sharks on Nov. 1, in his season debut. Blackwood has a 1.85 GAA and a .930 save percentage with the high-flying Avalanche across seven games this season. The Islanders are generating 2.85 goals per game, which ranks 24th in the NHL.
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Avalanche's Scott Wedgewood: Unavailable for Thursday's game
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Wedgewood (back) won't be available for Thursday's road game against the Islanders, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Wedgewood was removed from Tuesday's game against the Canucks after his back tightened up, and he'll be unavailable for at least one additional matchup. However, head coach Jared Bednar said that Wedgewood worked out Thursday morning and could return at some point during Colorado's current road trip, which runs through Tuesday. Mackenzie Blackwood will serve as the starting netminder against the Islanders on Thursday, while Trent Miner will be available as the No. 2 option.
Miner was recalled from AHL Colorado on Wednesday.
Miner's elevation to the NHL roster comes as Scott Wedgewood is currently dealing with a back injury. If needed, Miner figures to serve as the No. 2 option behind Mackenzie Blackwood against the Islanders on Thursday. Depending on how long Wedgewood is out, Miner could see action during an upcoming back-to-back versus the Rangers and Flyers on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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Avalanche's Gavin Brindley: Traveling with team
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Brindley (lower body) will join the Avalanche on their upcoming four-game road trip and might play before the end of it, per Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette on Wednesday.
Colorado visits the Islanders on Thursday, the Rangers on Saturday, Philadelphia on Sunday and Nashville on Tuesday. Brindley hasn't played since Nov. 20 due to the injury. The 21-year-old has four goals and seven points in 18 appearances this season.
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Avalanche's Scott Wedgewood: Appears to avoid significant injury
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Wedgewood's back tightened up on him, and that's the reason he was pulled from Tuesday's game versus the Canucks, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Wedgewood's exit in the second period came with little warning, but the first-place Avalanche opted to take a cautious approach with a goalie who's been key to their success. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 11 shots in relief of Wedgewood to earn the win. Wedgewood's injury doesn't appear to be significant at this time, though head coach Jared Bednar didn't confirm the goalie's availability for Thursday versus the Islanders.
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Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog: Provides two helpers
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Landeskog logged two assists and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Canucks.
Landeskog set up second-period tallies by Brock Nelson and Nathan MacKinnon. Prior to Tuesday, Landeskog battled an illness but ultimately didn't have to miss a game. He has earned three goals and five helpers, as well as a plus-8 rating and 17 shots on net, over his last six contests. The 33-year-old is up to 14 points, 46 shots on net, 37 hits, 21 PIM and a plus-11 rating through 26 appearances in a middle-six role. Landeskog's recent uptick in production should have him at least on the radar in all fantasy formats.
Nelson scored a goal and blocked three shots in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Canucks.
Nelson put the Avalanche ahead 2-1 at 13:52 of the second period, and his tally held up as the game-winner. The 34-year-old has earned 12 points over his last 10 games and finally looks to be more comfortable after a rough start to the campaign. He's at nine goals, 17 points, 43 shots on net, 19 blocked shots, 14 hits, 16 PIM and a plus-15 rating over 26 appearances, so he should offer a little of everything for fantasy managers.
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Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: Tallies twice in win
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MacKinnon scored two goals on six shots in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Canucks.
MacKinnon battled an illness Monday but was healthy enough to play in this contest. The 30-year-old only went on to log 22:15 of ice time, most among Colorado forwards, while scoring in the final minute of both the first and second periods. If he wasn't quite 100 percent, he didn't show it. MacKinnon has five goals and four assists during a four-game multi-point streak, during which he's added 20 shots on net and a plus-9 rating. On the year, the superstar has 22 goals, 46 points, 114 shots and a plus-32 rating across 26 contests.
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Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Perfect in relief for win
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Blackwood stopped all 11 shots he faced in relief of Scott Wedgewood (upper body) in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Canucks.
Blackwood was called upon just over halfway through the second period, entering after a TV timeout. The 28-year-old didn't face much traffic to close out that frame, and while the Canucks generated more shots in the third, he held them at bay to collect his sixth straight win. He's allowed just nine goals on 149 shots (.940 save percentage) during the streak, which includes everything but his season debut. Blackwood and Wedgewood were starting to settle into an even share of the crease, but Wedgewood's injury could lead to Blackwood getting significant playing time for a while, depending on the severity. The Avalanche begin a four-game road trip versus the Islanders on Thursday, and it includes a back-to-back (Saturday against the Rangers, Sunday versus the Flyers).
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Avalanche's Scott Wedgewood: Dealing with upper-body injury
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Wedgewood (upper body) will not return to Tuesday's game versus the Canucks.
It wasn't obvious what caused Wedgewood to leave the game in the middle of the second period, but the team was able to clarify that it was an injury. He stopped 10 of 11 shots before his exit, but Wedgewood left with the game tied at 1-1, so he won't get a result. Mackenzie Blackwood took over in goal and will see the bulk of the starts if Wedgewood misses any additional time. The Avalanche are beginning a four-game road trip Thursday versus the Islanders.
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Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog: Moves past illness
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Landeskog (illness) will suit up at home against the Canucks on Tuesday, according to Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now.
Landeskog missed Monday's practice because of an illness, but he'll avoid missing his first game of the season Tuesday. The Swedish winger has seemed to have found his offensive stride lately, notching six points across his last five games, including two goals (one on the power play) and an assist in Saturday's 7-2 win over Montreal.
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Avalanche's Parker Kelly: Will face Canucks
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Kelly (illness) will suit up for Tuesday's clash with Vancouver, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Kelly will look to end an eight-game goal drought during which he generated three assists, 10 shots and 24 hits while averaging 13:20 of ice time. The 26-year-old center will remain in a bottom-six role for the Avs, despite the return of Valeri Nichushkin (lower body).
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Ready to rock
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Nichushkin (lower body) will return to the lineup against Vancouver on Tuesday, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Following an eight-game absence, Nichushkin will probably occupy a middle-six role. He has produced five goals, 12 points, 41 shots on net and 16 hits in 17 appearances this season.
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Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: In action Tuesday
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MacKinnon (illness) will be in the lineup versus the Canucks on Tuesday, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
MacKinnon registered at least a point in 11 of 13 games in November, including seven multi-point efforts. The world-class center leads the NHL in goals (20) and points (44) to start the season and should be in the mix for both the Rocket and Hart trophies at the end of the year.
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Avalanche's Scott Wedgewood: Expected to start against Vancouver
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Wedgewood is slated to draw the home start against the Canucks on Tuesday, per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.
Wedgewood had his eight-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Wild on Friday, but he was hardly at fault in that matchup, as he turned aside 37 of 39 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss. The 33-year-old has been one of the stories of the season, posting a 13-1-3 record with one shutout, a 2.08 GAA and a .921 save percentage through 18 appearances. He has a favorable matchup Tuesday against a 10-13-3 Vancouver squad that has dropped back-to-back games and five of its last six (1-4-1).
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