Colorado Avalanche News

Blankenburg is presumably a healthy scratch despite Sam Malinski being unavailable due to injury. Josh Manson and Jack Ahcan will both draw into the lineup.

Sam Malinski is unavailable due to an upper-body injury and Nick Blankenburg is a healthy scratch, giving Ahcan the opportunity to draw in. He’ll skate with Josh Manson on the Avs’ third pair.

Manson has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Game Three of the first round against the Los Aneles Kings, but will return for Game Four against the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.

Kiviranta played the first two games of the postseason for Colorado against the Los Angeles Kings, but has been sidelined since. The 30-year-old Finnish forward averaged 10:22 time-on-ice and scored nine points (3G / 6A) in 51 games during the regular season.

Malinski was a surprise scratch alongside Artturi Lehkonen ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Josh Manson will return from an upper-body injury and fill the void in the Avs lineup left by Malinski.

Lehkonen was a surprise scratch alongside Sam Malinski ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Joel Kiviranta will return from an undisclosed injury and fill the void in the Avs lineup left by Lehkonen.

Scott Wedgewood played Colorado's first six postseason games in their entirety, going 6-0, but was replaced by Blackwood in Game Three against the Minnesota Wild after allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in an eventual 5-1 loss. The 29-year-old Blackwood was solid in limited action in Game Three, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%). Blackwood has not started a game in over three weeks, but was solid to end the regular season, posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Colorado will hope to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, entering Game Four as -134 road favourites.

Kiviranta played the first two games of the postseason for Colorado against the Los Angeles Kings, but has been sidelined since. The 30-year-old Finnish forward averaged 10:22 time-on-ice and scored nine points (3G / 6A) in 51 games during the regular season.

Manson has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Game Three of the first round against the Los Aneles Kings, but could be an option in Game Four against the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.

Scott Wedgewood played Colorado's first six postseason games in their entirety, going 6-0, but was replaced by Blackwood in Game Three against the Minnesota Wild after allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in an eventual 5-1 loss. The 29-year-old Blackwood was solid in limited action in Game Three, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%). Blackwood has not started a game in over three weeks, but was solid to end the regular season, posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Colorado will hope to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, entering Game Four as -134 road favourites.

Wedgewood will no doubt be hoping for a more conventional victory over the Wild in Game 2, but the Avalanche will take them anyway they can get them. Wedgewood was tagged for six goals on 36 shots in Game 1 but still managed to come away with the win thanks to his teammates lighting the lamp nine times against the Wild. The Avalanche enter action on Tuesday at -190 on the money line as they aim to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Manson was limited to only 4:57 time-on-ice in Colorado's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game Three nearly two weeks ago, exiting due to an upper-body injury. Avs' Head Coach Jared Bednar has not provided much insight into Manson's injury, but he has not played since and is at risk of missing a third consecutive game. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.

Makar briefly exited Sunday's roller-coaster 9-6 Game One win of the Minnesota Wild midway through the first period after an awkward collision, but returned to the game during the second period. The talented 27-year-old defenseman seemed no worse for wear, going on to complete his productive game of this postseason, scoring three points (2G / 1A).

Several weeks ago, Colorado was non-committal about who their starting goalie would be in the postseason, but after a dominant four-game sweep over the Los Angeles Kings, there is no doubt they will roll with Wedgewood to start round two against the Minnesota Wild. Piggybacking off a career-best regular season, Wedgewood was tremendous in four postseason games (4-0), posting an impressive 1.21 GAA and .950 SV%. The well-rested Avalanche enter Game One as -177 home favourites.

Several weeks ago, Colorado was non-committal about who their starting goalie would be in the postseason, but after a dominant four-game sweep over the Los Angeles Kings, there is no doubt they will roll with Wedgewood to start round two against the Minnesota Wild. Piggybacking off a career-best regular season, Wedgewood was tremendous in four postseason games (4-0), posting an impressive 1.21 GAA and .950 SV%. The well-rested Avalanche enter Game One as -177 home favourites.

Several weeks ago, Colorado was non-committal about who their starting goalie would be in the postseason, but three games in, they are confident in their decision to turn to Wedgewood. In his first postseason as a starting goalie, the 33-year-old Wedgewood has been outstanding, helping his team jump out to a 3-0 series lead, boasting a dazzling 1.28 GAA and .947 SV%. The Avalanche hope to sweep the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, entering Game Four as -169 road favourites.