Colorado Avalanche News

Gushchin is off to a blistering start at the AHL level, scoring seven points (6G / 1A) in 18 games with the Eagles. The 23-year-old forward has five points (2G / 3A) in 18 career NHL games.

Ahcan is off to a hot start with the Eagles (AHL), with five points (1G / 4A) in four games. The undrafted 28-year-old defenseman has played 11 career NHL games and will hope to make his season debut with the team on their upcoming road trip.

Blackwood appears to be nearing a return from a lower-body injury after being sent to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning loan at the beginning of last week, but will miss at least two more games before the team returns home. Scott Wedgewood has played well to start the season, filling in for Blackwood, but the team will be eager to have the services of Blackwood back in their lineup after posting a 22-12-3 record last season, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) is nearing a return to the lineup for Colorado, but the team has no reason to deviate from Wedgewood, who has been outstanding filling in as the starting goalie. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been between the pipes for every Colorado game this season, yet to lose in regulation (5-0-2), posting a tremendous 1.84 GAA and .927 SV%. The Avalanche enter the action on Thursday as -129 home favorites against a Carolina Hurricanes team coming off their first loss of the season (5-1-0).

Colorado's de facto starting netminder to open the campaign, Wedgewood has thrived in Mackenzie Blackwood's absence, and he's making an argument to continue seeing substantial playing time even once Blackwood is cleared to return. Wedgewood is yet to be tagged with a regulation loss and leads the league with five wins across his six starts, while also posting an otherworldly .938 SV% and 1.48 GAA. He's a great bet to stay in the win column on Tuesday as the Avalanche enter action at -150 on the money line.

Scott Wedgewood has started Colorado's first six games of the 2025-26 season, but Blackwood appears to be nearing a return from a lower-body injury after being sent to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning loan at the beginning of last week. Wedgewood has played well to start the season, but the team will be eager to have the services of Blackwood back in their lineup after posting a 22-12-3 record last season, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

Ahcan did not appear in an NHL game during his call-up. He returns to the AHL, where he has four points (1G / 3A) in two games this season.

Bardakov was a seventh round pick of the Devils in 2021 and was traded to the Avalanche last March for Kurtis MacDermid. The 24-year-old came to North America this year after five years in the KHL. Bardakov had 17 goals and 18 assists (35 points) in 53 games with St. Petersburg SKA last year.

Kiviranta will miss an expected period of time with a lower-body injury, opening the door for Zakhar Bardakov to make his NHL debut on Saturday.

Scott Wedgewood has started Colorado's first five games of the 2025-26 season, but Blackwood appears to be nearing a return from a lower-body injury after being sent to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning loan at the beginning of the week. Wedgewood has played well to start the season, but the team will be eager to have the services of Blackwood back in their lineup after posting a 22-12-3 record last season, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

Mackenzie Blackwood is nearing his return, currently on a conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), but Wedgewood remains the option between the pipes for the Avalanche on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been stellar, posting an impressive 1.72 GAA and .935 SV% in four games (3-0-1). Colorado is a -160 road favorite on Thursday against a Columbus team off to a 1-2-0 start.

Scott Wedgewood has started Colorado's first four games of the 2025-26 season, but Blackwood appears to be nearing a return from a lower-body injury after being sent to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning Loan on Monday. Wedgewood has played well to start the season, but the team will be eager to have the services of Blackwood back in their lineup after posting a 22-12-3 record last season, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

Scott Wedgewood has started Colorado's first four games of the 2025-26 season, but Blackwood appears to be nearing a return from a lower-body injury after being sent to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on a conditioning Loan. Wedgewood has played well to start the season, but the team will be eager to have the services of Blackwood back in their lineup after posting a 22-12-3 record last season, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

An early afternoon contest in Buffalo on Monday will see Wedgewood start for the fourth time in the early season. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been thrust into a starting position with Mackenzie Blackwood continuing to recover from a lower-body injury. Wedgewood has a 1.95 GAA and .925 SV% in three games this season (2-0-1) and is coming off his first loss of the campaign, where he allowed four goals on 22 shots (.818 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. Colorado enters Monday's contest as -174 road favorites against a Buffalo team that has been outscored 7-1 through two games this season (0-2-0).