Colorado is expected to announce the plan with Yakov Trenin ahead of Game 6 on Friday after their fourth-line forward left Game 5 due to an undisclosed injury after just 2:16 TOI. The 27-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline and has locked down his fourth line centre roll well with a goal, eight SOG and four PIMs in 10 games played in the playoffs.
With Devon Toews (illness) returning from injury for Game 5, Caleb Jones will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has appeared in three games for the Avalanche in the playoffs but has yet to pick up a point to go along with his six PIMs and +1 plus/minus.
Georgiev allowed four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) for a third straight loss but was far and away Colorado's biggest problem in Game 4 and will take the crease again on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has had a very up-and-down playoffs so far, with his 5-4-0 record, 3.10 GAA and .891 SV%. He will head to Dallas to take on the Stars, who are looking for their second-straight series win on Wednesday.
Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness but travelled with the Avalanche to Dallas and will play in Game 5 on Wednesday after practicing in full. The 30-year-old's absence in Game 4 was a massive loss as he has been a lock in Colorado's top pair and has a goal, six points and a +4 plus/minus in eight games while averaging 23:45 TOI/GP.
Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness but travelled with the Avalanche to Dallas and is a game-time decision for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 30-year-old's absence in Game 4 was a massive loss as he has been a lock in Colorado's top pair and has a goal, six points and a +4 plus/minus in eight games while averaging 23:45 TOI/GP.
Toews missed Game 4 due to an illness and did not participate in Tuesday's practice. However, he's still expected to travel to Dallas for Game 5. Expect him to be a game-time decision on Wednesday.
Under the terms of the joint program, Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months and then will be eligible to apply for reinstatement.
Toews was hit high by Dallas' captain Jamie Benn in the second period of Game 2 and was forced to leave before returning in the third period and is not feeling any effects on Friday according to head coach Jared Bednar. The 30-year-old has been a staple on Colorado's back-end all playoffs, with a goal, five points, 10 SOG and +5 plus/minus while averaging 23:49 TOI/GP.
Georgiev stopped 19 of 22 shots in the Avalanche's come from behind win in Game 1. Georgiev was absolutely lit up in his first start of the playoffs but has gone 5-0 with 2.12 GAA and .921 SV% in five games since. Tonight he'll backstop the Avalanche as +118 road underdogs, who are looking to take the series back to Colorado up 2-0.
Drouin missed all of Colorado's opening series win over Winnipeg due to a lower-body injury but travelled with the team to Dallas and took part in practice for the first time since his injury on Wednesday. The 29-year-old is one step closer to a return which is a great sign for Colorado after he posted career highs in points (56), and plus/minus (+12) across 79 games played during the regular season.
Wagner has yet to appear in the playoffs for Colorado but will draw into the lineup for Nikolai Kovalenko and play on the third line. The 32-year-old had one goal and one assist in 13 games played with the Avalanche during the regular season while averaging just 7:27 TOI/GP.
Kovalenko appeared in two games during Colorado's opening series win over Winnipeg but will head to the press box for the Avalanche's opening game in Dallas. The 24-year-old will be replaced by Chris Wagner after failing to pick up a point while averaging just below 7 minutes TOI.
