Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Starting in Vancouver
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Blackwood will guard the road goal versus the Canucks on Monday, according to Kevin Woodley of NHL.com.
Blackwood stopped 37 shots in a 5-2 win over Nashville on Saturday during his Colorado debut. He posted a 6-9-3 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 19 appearances with San Jose before the trade, and his numbers should continue to improve as he plays more games for the Avalanche. Vancouver sits 12th in the league with 3.21 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Avalanche's Josh Manson: Could play during trip
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Manson (upper body) might suit up during Colorado's three-game road trip but won't be in action against Vancouver on Monday, Avalanche play-by-play announcer Conor McGahey reports.
Manson will have a few extra days before Colorado's back-to-back versus the Sharks and Ducks on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Once ready to play, Manson will need to be activated off injured reserve, which could see either Keaton Middleton head back to the minors or John Ludvig could be put back on waivers. Manson has registered six points in 24 games this year but doesn't have a power-play role, which limits his fantasy upside.
Avalanche's John Ludvig: Struggling to make lineup
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Ludvig has played just five times over 21 games since the start of November after being scratched Saturday versus the Predators.
The Avalanche have some flexibility with Keaton Middleton right now, and they have been juggling him up and down from the AHL rather than play Ludvig. Colorado claimed Ludvig off waivers from the Penguins before the start of the season, and he would need to clear waivers to be sent to AHL Colorado, so he's been hanging around with the NHL club as a healthy scratch. Ludvig has two helpers, nine shots on net, 16 hits and a minus-4 rating over eight contests this season.
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Avalanche's Sam Malinski: Stuck in drought
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Malinski was held off the scoresheet for the 17th game in a row Saturday in a 5-2 win over the Predators.
Malinski has moved up the depth chart in that time due to the injury absences of Josh Manson (upper body) and Oliver Kylington (upper body). Still, the larger role isn't leading to more offense. Malinski has four points, 45 shots on net, 50 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating through 32 appearances, down from the 10 points he put up over 23 regular-season outings last year.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Gets 10th goal in win
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Colton scored a goal and added four hits in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Predators.
Colton has two goals over five games since returning from a broken foot. His tally Saturday was his 10th of the campaign, though he's added just one assist over 15 contests. He also plays a physical game, with 40 hits and 44 shots on net, though he has yet to take a penalty while often skating in a second-line role this season.
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Avalanche's Tye Felhaber: Signs with Colorado
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Felhaber signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche on Sunday.
Felhaber had already been with AHL Colorado on a minor-league deal. The 26-year-old forward has yet to play in the NHL, though he has racked up eight goals and 13 points in 23 AHL games this year. With the Avs still dealing with injuries in their bottom six, Felhaber could eventually get a look in a depth role this season.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Three helpers in Saturday's win
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Rantanen collected three assists in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Predators.
The Avs' top line of Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen accounted for four goals and eight points on the night, dominating play after Ross Colton gave the team a 1-0 lead midway through the second period. Rantanen has gotten onto the scoresheet in five straight games, and he has seven multi-point performances over the last 18 contests, erupting for 12 goals and 29 points over that stretch.
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Avalanche's Artturi Lehkonen: Lights lamp twice in win
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Lehkonen scored two goals, one of them the game-winner, in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Predators.
The 29-year-old winger continues to find the back of the net with regularity. Lehkonen has seven goals in the last nine games, although he's added only one helper to his ledger during that stretch, and Saturday's performance was his first multi-goal performance since Feb. 13. Lehkonen's up to 10 goals and 15 points in 20 appearances.
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Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: Three points against Preds
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MacKinnon scored two goals and added an assist in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Predators.
The Avs' top line of MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen accounted for four goals and eight points on the night, dominating play after Ross Colton gave the team a 1-0 lead midway through the second period. MacKinnon has produced at least three points in three of the last seven games, racking up six goals and 14 points over that stretch to surge to the top of the NHL scoring race with 50 points (13 goals, 37 helpers) in 32 contests.
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Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Nabs first win for Colorado
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Blackwood turned aside 37 shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Predators.
Getting his first start since being traded from the Sharks to the Avalanche, Blackwood took a shutout into the third period but had to settle for his first win with his new club. The 28-year-old should get first crack at the top job in the revamped Colorado crease ahead of Scott Wedgewood. Blackwood has a 2.95 GAA and .912 save percentage through 20 outings this season, while his 7-9-3 record should improve quickly with a better offense supporting him.
Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood: Set to start Saturday
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Blackwood will protect the home net against Nashville on Saturday, according to Guerilla Sports.
Blackwood will finally make his Avalanche debut after being acquired from San Jose on Monday. He has a 6-9-3 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .909 save percentage through 19 appearances this season. Nashville ranks 32nd in the league with 2.27 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Avalanche's Givani Smith: Back in bigs
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Smith was called up from AHL Colorado on Saturday.
Smith has played the last pair of games with the Avalanche after he was dealt with Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose on Monday. Smith has yet to pick up a point in eight NHL games this season with Colorado and San Jose. Look for Smith to see fourth-line action alongside Ivan Ivan and Chris Wagner versus Nashville on Saturday.
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Avalanche's Keaton Middleton: Recalled from minors
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Middleton was recalled from AHL Colorado on Saturday.
Middleton is without a point in four NHL games this season. The 26-year-old could join the lineup as the sixth defenseman or be a healthy scratch versus Nashville.
Smith was reassigned to AHL Colorado following Thursday's game versus Utah.
Smith logged 6:30 of ice time with two hits and two PIM in Thursday's 4-1 loss. The 26-year-old cleared waivers while he was a member of the Sharks prior to getting traded to the Avalanche. He's played in two games with his new team, so he can play in a maximum of eight more -- or spend a total of 30 days on the NHL roster -- before he'd require waivers again.
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Avalanche's Keaton Middleton: Sent back down
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Middleton was reassigned to AHL Colorado following Thursday's game versus Utah.
It's the usual cap gymnastics for the Avalanche, so Middleton may be recalled prior to Saturday's game versus the Predators. He will continue to compete with John Ludvig for the last spot in the lineup.
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Avalanche's Devon Toews: Contributes helper
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Toews logged an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 4-1 loss to Utah.
Toews has five helpers over six games in December. He continues to offer steady but not explosive offense in a top-pairing role, and he also maintains a spot on the second power-play unit. Toews is up to 12 points, 39 shots on net, 34 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 27 outings this season. He's been better -- the blueliner has reached the 50-point mark in each of the last three years, but he'll have to pick up the pace to do so in 2024-25.
