Colorado Avalanche News

Middleton will slot in for Samuel Girard, who was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury. Middleton will likely skate alongside Erik Johnson on the team's third pair.

Girard was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the team only announcing his absence minutes before puck drop. Keaton Middleton will draw into the lineup in his place.

Wedgewood will make his 14th start as a member of the Avalanche when they travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Thursday. Wedgewood secured his fourth consecutive victory in his last outing, stopping 19 of the 22 shots he faced in a 4-3 overtime win over the Stars on Sunday. The 32-year-old netminder has posted a 9-4-0 record and a .917 SV% for the Avalanche this season. Wedgewood and the Avs enter action on Thursday at -110 on the money line.

Manson has missed several stints due to injuries this season, limited to only 48 games, and will likely miss another three-to-four weeks due to an upper-body ailment. The 33-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:02 time-on-ice, recording 15 points (1G / 14A), 59 blocks, and 105 hits this season.

Blackwood did not play the previous two games for Colorado due to an illness but will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been tremendous since joining Colorado earlier this season, posting a 2.17 GAA and .919 SV% in 28 games (18-7-3). He has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last 11 games (8-2-1), posting a .920 SV%. Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as -114 road favorites against a Maple Leafs squad they defeated 7-4 on March 8th.

Blackwood did not play the previous two games for Colorado due to an illness but will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been tremendous since joining Colorado earlier this season, posting a 2.17 GAA and .919 SV% in 28 games (18-7-3). He has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last 11 games (8-2-1), posting a .920 SV%. Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as -114 road favorites against a Maple Leafs squad they defeated 7-4 on March 8th.

Landeskog has not played since the 2021-22 season and still doesn't have definitive timeline for a return but has continued skating with the team and will join them on their upcoming road trip. Landeskog missed the entire 2022-23 regular season as he recovered from knee surgery and followed that up with a cartilage transplant in his right knee during the offseason. The 30-year-old has 571 points (248G/323A) and a +77 plus/minus across 738 career NHL games.

Blackwood is battling an illness but will likely suit up as the back up to Scott Wedgewood on Friday against the Calgary Flames. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been stellar since joining Colorado, posting a 2.17 GAA and .919 SV% in 28 games (18-7-3).

Erik Johnson will draw back into Colorado's lineup on Friday against the Calgary Flames, sending Malinski to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Malinski is averaging 15:30 time-on-ice and has nine points (2G / 7A) in 61 games this season.

Sam Malinski will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Johnson to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Johnson made his season debut with the Avalanche earlier this week, playing 12:01 time-on-ice and recording three hits.

With Mackenzie Blackwood battling an illness, Wedgewood will tend the twine for Colorado for the second time in their past three games. Wedgewood was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 20 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks for his second shutout of the season. The 32-year-old Wedgewood has an impressive 2.03 GAA and .922 SV% in 12 appearances with Colorado this season (7-4-0). Colorado enters the action on Friday as -203 road favorites against a Calgary Flames team with points in five straight (2-0-3).

Wood will be scratched along with Jimmy Vesey and Erik Johnson as the Avalanche opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Logan O'Connor, Parker Kelly, and Sam Malinski will all draw in.

Johnson will be scratched along with Jimmy Vesey and Miles Wood as the Avalanche opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Logan O'Connor, Parker Kelly, and Sam Malinski will all draw in.

Vesey will be scratched along with Miles Wood and Erik Johnson as the Avalanche opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Logan O'Connor, Parker Kelly, and Sam Malinski will all draw in.