Colorado Avalanche News

After a tremendous first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, posting a dazzling 1.21 GAA and .950 SV% in a four-game sweep, Wedgewood battled some adversity in the second round against the Minnesota Wild. The 33-year-old Wedgewood allowed three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in Game Three, a 5-1 loss to Minnesota, and was relieved by Mackenzie Blackwood, who started the subsequent two games. Wedgewood posted a concerning 3.51 GAA and .872 SV% in four second-round appearances (3-1), but saved all seven shots he faced in relief of Blackwood in Colorado's series-clinching Game Five victory. The Avalanche enter Game One as -172 home favourites.

Malinski missed Games 4 and 5 vs. the Wild but participated in Tuesday's practice and head coach Jared Bednar "hopes" to have Malinski and Artturi Lehkonen back in the lineup for Game 1 vs. Vegas on Wednesday. Malinski, who has three points (1G / 2A) in seven games, should be back on a pairing with Brent Burns and PP2.

Lehkonen missed Games 4 and 5 vs. the Wild but participated in Tuesday's practice and head coach Jared Bednar "hopes" to have Lehkonen and Sam Malinski back in the lineup for Game 1 vs. Vegas on Wednesday. Lehkonen, who skated with Brock Nelson and Nicolas Roy yesterday, has three goals and three assists (six points) in seven playoff games.

Lehkonen was a late scratch for Game 4 due to an upper-body injury but will be a game-time decision ahead of Game 5 vs. Minnesota on Wednesday. The 30-year-old has been a constant force in Colorado's electric top-six and has three goals, six points and a +9 plus/minus in seven playoff games this year.

Malinski was an unexpected scratch for Game 4 with an upper-body injury but will now be a game-time decision as Colorado hosts Minnesota for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 27-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2026-26, with 40 points in 82 games and has continued that success into the postseason with an impressive three points and +7 plus/minus in 7 games played so far.

Blackwood started his first game of the playoffs in Game 4 and earned the crease back for Game 5 as Colorado looks to close out Minnesota on home ice on Wednesday. Blackwood played exceptional in his only start of the playoffs, stopping 21 shots (.905 SV%) on route to a 5-2 win over the Wild on Monday. If Colorado were to win on Wednesday, they would meet either Vegas or Anaheim in the Western Conference Final.

Malinski was an unexpected scratch for Game 4 with an upper-body injury but will now be a game-time decision as Colorado hosts Minnesota for Game 5 on Wednesday. The 27-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2026-26, with 40 points in 82 games and has continued that success into the postseason with an impressive three points and +7 plus/minus in 7 games played so far.

Lehkonen was a late scratch for Game 4 due to an upper-body injury but will be a game-time decision ahead of Game 5 vs. Minnesota on Wednesday. The 30-year-old has been a constant force in Colorado's electric top-six and has three goals, six points and a +9 plus/minus in seven playoff games this year.

Blackwood started his first game of the playoffs in Game 4 and earned the crease back for Game 5 as Colorado looks to close out Minnesota on home ice on Wednesday. Blackwood played exceptional in his only start of the playoffs, stopping 21 shots (.905 SV%) on route to a 5-2 win over the Wild on Monday. If Colorado were to win on Wednesday, they would meet either Vegas or Anaheim in the Western Conference Final.

Lehkonen was a surprise scratch alongside Sam Malinski ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Joel Kiviranta returned from an injury to replace Lehkonen, but it is unclear if Lehkonen will be able to return in Game 5.

Malinski was a surprise scratch alongside Artturi Lehkonen ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Josh Manson returned from an upper-body injury in Game 4 to replace Malinski, whose status remains uncertain for Game 5.

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.