Colorado Avalanche News

Colorado will likely turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Blackwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) despite a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent since joining Colorado last month, posting a superb 1.66 GAA and .939 SV% in 11 games (8-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -157 home favorites against a New York team with points in four straight (3-0-1).

The Bruins are navigating a handful of injuries at the moment and could also be without Coyle on Tuesday night due to an illness. The 32-year-old Coyle is averaging 17:20 time-on-ice and has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 45 games this season.

Ivan has not played since December 27th due to an upper-body injury and has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL). The 22-year-old Czech forward has eight points (5G / 3A) in 37 games this season.

Innala has split time between the AHL and NHL in his first professional season in North America. The 26-year-old has been impressive at the AHL level, scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 21 games but has not seen that success translate to the NHL level, scoring zero points in 10 games.

Polin is an undrafted product of Western Michigan University. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in seven games. He has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games with the Colorado Eagles.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, Blackwood is expected return to the crease on Thursday in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood has an impressive 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 28 games this season (13-10-4). Even more remarkable, the 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado, boasting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .938 SV% in nine appearances (7-1-1).

Drouin played 21:50 time-on-ice in Colorado's most recent game, a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers, but will not play on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Drouin has battled through an injury played 2024-25 season. That said, he has been productive in limited action, scoring eight points (3G / 5A) in nine games.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, Blackwood is expected return to the crease on Thursday in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood has an impressive 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 28 games this season (13-10-4). Even more remarkable, the 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado, boasting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .938 SV% in nine appearances (7-1-1).

Miner was recalled last week after Scott Wedgewood (lower body) was injured and will make his first career start on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Miner was a seventh-round pick of Colorado in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old netminder was excellent in the AHL last season, posting a 2.10 GAA and .930 SV% in 18 games (9-6-1), but has fallen off slightly in the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.47 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 outings (8-5-3). Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as sizeable -230 road favorites against a Chicago team outscored 25-11 in their last five games (1-4-0).

Originally slated to return on Colorado's upcoming three-game road trip, Nichushkin has been ruled out for those games by head coach Jared Bednar. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

The Avalanche travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively, meaning Nichushkin should return by the weekend at the latest. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Colorado will roll with Blackwood between the pipes on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Blackwood was excellent in his previous outing, a losing effort, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in 27 games this season (12-10-4). The Avalanche enter Monday's contest as -117 home favorites against a Panthers club that has only scored eight goals in their previous five games (2-3-0).