Colorado Avalanche News

With Blackwood struggling in recent games, it seems likely that Colorado will turn to Scott Wedgewood to tend the twine to start the postseason, but they will turn to Blackwood on Tuesday in their penultimate game of the regular season. The 29-year-old Blackwood was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Still, Blackwood has an ugly 3.52 GAA and .873 SV% in his last five appearances (1-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -139 road favourites against a Calgary Flames team they have outscored 12-3 in two games over the past two weeks (2-0-0).

With Blackwood struggling in recent games, it seems likely that Colorado will turn to Scott Wedgewood to tend the twine to start the postseason, but they will turn to Blackwood on Tuesday in their penultimate game of the regular season. The 29-year-old Blackwood was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Still, Blackwood has an ugly 3.52 GAA and .873 SV% in his last five appearances (1-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -139 road favourites against a Calgary Flames team they have outscored 12-3 in two games over the past two weeks (2-0-0).

Bardakov will slot in for Artturi Lehkonen, who is being rested on Monday. Bardakov has one goal and nine assists in 57 games this season.

Lehkonen is presumably getting the night off for rest on Monday as the Avalanche have already clinched the President's Trophy as the best team in the regular season. Lehkonen has enjoyed another productive season in Denver, tallying 20 goals and 27 assists in 68 games.

Wedgwood will be back between the pipes for the Avalanche on Monday after serving as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup in each of the last two games. Wedgewood turned in another strong performance in his last outing, allowing just a single goal on 19 shots in a 3-1 win in St. Louis on Tuesday. The 33-year-old netminder has enjoyed a career year in Denver, posting an outstanding 29-6-6 record while leading the NHL in both SV% (.918) and GAA (2.10). Wedgewood and the Avs enter action in Edmonton as slight favourites at -120 on the money line.

With the Presidents' Trophy already secured by the Colorado Avalanche, Manson will have the night off to rest on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 34-year-old Manson has played all 79 games for Colorado this season, tallying 31 points (5G / 26A).

Makar has been out since March 30th with an upper-body injury but returned to Colorado's practice in a regular jersey on Friday. The two time Norris winning defensemen return is a welcome sign for the league-leading Avalanche, but he will miss at least one more game. Makar is expected to be fully healthy for the playoffs and currently sits at 20-goals and 75 points in 73 games played this season.

Hughes will join the Colorado Eagles on an AHL Professional Tryout agreement (PTO) for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Makar has been out since March 30th with an upper-body injury but returned to Colorado's practice in a regular jersey on Friday. The two time Norris winning defensemen return is a welcome sign after Colorado locked up the Presidents Trophy on Thursday. Makar is expected to be full healthy for the playoffs and currently sits at 20-goals and 75 points in 73 games played this season.

With Nazem Kadri battling an upper-body injury, Kiviranta will draw into the lineup as his replacement. The 30-year-old Kiviranta had a career-high 16 goals in 79 games last season, but has been limited to only three goals and six assists through 46 games this season.

Kadri was limited to only 6:09 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues due to an upper-body injury. The severity of Kadri's injury is unclear, but with the playoffs fast approaching, Colorado has erred on the side of caution with several minor injuries over the past weeks. The 35-year-old Kadri has nine points (4G / 5A) in 16 game with Colorado since being acquired at the trade deadline.

With only five games left in Colorado's regular season, the team will likely be inclined to turn to Scott Wedgewood as their starting goalie in the playoffs unless Blackwood can quickly turn things around. The 29-year-old Blackwood has lost three straight outings, allowing 12 goals on 68 combined shots (.824 SV%). Since the beginning of March, he has had a sub- .900 SV% in seven of 11 appearances (4-4-0). That said, Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -312 home favourites against a Calgary Flames team they defeated 9-2 last week.

Makar has not played in over a week due to an upper-body injury, and with the postseason just over a week away, the team remains cautious in returning him to the lineup. That said, he was back at practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and is expected to play before the end of the regular season.

Kadri was limited to only 6:09 time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues due to an upper-body injury. The severity of Kadri's injury is unclear, but with the playoffs fast approaching, Colorado has erred on the side of caution with several minor injuries over the past weeks. The 35-year-old Kadri has nine points (4G / 5A) in 16 game with Colorado since being acquired at the trade deadline.

With Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) returning from a one-game absence, Kiviranta will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Kiviranta had a career-high 16 goals in 79 games last season, but has been limited to only three goals and six assists through 46 games this season.

Nichushkin was a late scratch on Sunday, missing the game due to an upper-body injury, but he will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 31-year-old Nichushkin is producing at his lowest offensive output in five seasons, but has been more productive lately, with seven points (1G / 6A) in his last eight games. He has 45 points (15G / 30A) in 66 games this season. Joel Kiviranta will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Nichushkin's return.

Roy has been effective in a bottom-six role since being acquired by Colorado, and will re-enter the lineup after being sidelined for two weeks due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old had five goals in 59 games with Toronto, but already scored three in nine games with Colorado. Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Roy's return.

With Nicolas Roy returning from an upper-body injury, Bardakov will head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Bardakov has only played one game in the past two weeks. He has 10 points (1G / 9A) in 57 games this season.