Gavin Brindley (lower body) will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers, resulting in Bardakov heading the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Bardakov, in his first NHL season, has five points (1G / 4A) in 25 games.
Brindley has not played since November 20th, tending to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 21-year-old forward has seven points (4G / 3A) in 18 games this season. Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Brindley's return.
Blackwood started three straight games while Scott Wedgewood was injured, but it appears the Avalanche will return to an even goalie rotation after Wedgewood made his return on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Blackwood returns to the crease against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, following a 23-save performance (.920 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Colorado has received exceptional goaltending regardless of who is tending the twine, and Blackwood has been no exception, posting an excellent 2.21 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 games (8-1-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -224 home favorites against a Panthers team that played last night and is riding a three-game winning streak.
Brindley has not played since November 20th due to a lower-body injury and will be held out of the lineup again on Tuesday. The 21-year-old forward has four goals and three assists in 18 games this season.
Necas has been outstanding in his first full season with Colorado. The 27-year-old forward had a career-high 83 points (27G / 56A) in 79 games last season and is pacing to shatter those totals in 2025-26, with 39 points (14G / 25A) in 29 games, a 110-point pace in 82 games.
Necas has been outstanding in his first full season with Colorado, but could miss his first game due to illness. The 27-year-old forward had a career-high 83 points (27G / 56A) in 79 games last season and is pacing to shatter those totals in 2025-26, with 39 points (14G / 25A) in 29 games, a 110-point pace in 82 games.
Wedgewood has not played since suffering a lower-body injury a week ago, but he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is having a storybook season with Colorado, posting a superb 2.07 GAA and .920 SV% in 19 games (13-1-3). Colorado enters the action on Tuesday as sizable -202 road favorites against a Nashville Predators team amid their best six-game stretch of the season (4-2-0).
Wedgewood is not expected to be out long-term, but will not play on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The Avalanche recalled Trent Miner to serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup on Thursday, and he could draw into a game during a back-to-back this weekend if Wedgewood remains sidelined.
Colorado has been alternating goalies in recent weeks, but with Scott Wedgewood (lower body) sidelined, Blackwood's return to the crease on Thursday was seemingly inevitable. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been outstanding lately, posting a 0.50 GAA, .979 SV%, and two shutouts in his last four appearances (4-0-0). He has a 1.84 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -180 road favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Colorado has been alternating goalies in recent weeks, but with Scott Wedgewood (lower body) sidelined, Blackwood's return to the crease on Thursday was seemingly inevitable. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been outstanding lately, posting a 0.50 GAA, .979 SV%, and two shutouts in his last four appearances (4-0-0). He has a 1.84 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -180 road favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Scott Wedgewood did not finish Tuesday's game due to an upper-body injury. Head Coach Jared Bednar emphasized it was just precautionary, but the team has recalled Miner from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) nonetheless. The 24-year-old Miner posted a 2.12 GAA and .909 SV% in two games with the Avalanche earlier this season (0-0-2).
The Avalanche continue their league dominance, with only one regulation loss through 25 games (18-1-6), led largely by an exceptional tandem goaltending duo of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is coming off a tough 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild despite an exceptional 35-save performance (.946 SV%). He has a terrific 2.08 GAA and .920 SV% in 18 games this season (13-1-3). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as massive -310 home favorites against a Vancouver Canucks team that has lost eight of their last 10 (2-5-3).
An illness seems to be circulating through Colorado's dressing room, leaving several players absent from practice on Monday, including captain Gabriel Landeskog. That said, he will be ready to suit up on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 33-year-old Landeskog, playing his first season in several years, has been excellent lately for the Avalanche, with eight points (5G / 3A) in his last nine games.
An illness seems to be circulating through Colorado's dressing room, leaving several players absent from practice on Monday, including Parker Kelly. That said, he will be ready to suit up on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old Kelly has 11 points (5G / 6A) while predominantly playing on the fourth line.
