L'Heureux will return from his three game suspension vs. Washington on Saturday.
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Colorado Avalanche News
Goalie Start
Blackwood led the Avalanche onto the ice for warmups.
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).
Goalie Start
Blackwood is expected to start in Minnesota on Thursday.
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).
Goalie Start
Miner will make his first NHL start on Wednesday in Chicago.
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).
Goalie Start
Blackwood will start vs. Florida on Monday.
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).
Goalie Start
Blackwood will start against the Canadiens on Saturday.
Line Change
Svechkov will draw into the Predators lineup on Friday.
Svechkov will fill in for Tommy Novak, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Svechkov has two goals and zero assists in nine games this season.
Wedgewood (lower-body) is still being evaluated but is expected to be out week-to-week.
Wedgewood was hurt after Zach Benson fell on his right leg in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Wedgewood had to be helped off the ice and was reportedly wearing a boot post-game. Colorado has recalled Trent Miner to serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup in the interim.
Miner has been recalled from the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Scott Wedgewood exited Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres after a collision with Zach Benson and is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. Miner could serve as the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood for the entirety of Wedgewood's absence as Colorado head coach Jared Bednar stated that Blackwood will likely see a heavy workload. The 23-year-old Miner has a 2.47 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games (8-5-3) with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
Svechkov has been recalled from Milwaukee (AHL).
Svechkov made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring two points (2G / 0A) in nine games, but has spent most of the season in the AHL. He has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 13 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). The 21-year-old Svechkov was the 19th overall pick of the Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Manson (undisclosed) missed practice on Friday.
Manson has only played three games since returning from a 12-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old Manson is averaging 18:00 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 27 games this season. It's unclear if this ailment is related to his previous injury.
Wedgewood left Thursday’s game vs. Buffalo with a lower-body injury.
Wedgewood was hurt after Zach Benson fell on his right leg. Wedgewood had to be helped off the ice and was reportedly wearing a boot post-game. Expect an update from the Avalanche in the coming days. But it looks like Wedgewood is going to be out indefinitely.
L'Heureux has been suspended three games for slew-footing Minnesota's Jared Spurgeon.
Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild exited Tuesday's contest after being slew-footed by L'Heureux and did not return to game. Spurgeon was seen leaving the arena with crutches. L'Heureux was not issued any penalties on the play. The 21-year-old L'Heureux is in his first NHL season and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 33 games.
Goalie Start
Wedgewood will start vs. Buffalo on Thursday.
Wedgewood has only played once since December 12th, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on December 20th. Still, the 32-year-old netminder has been solid in limited action with Colorado, posting an impressive 1.93 GAA and .932 SV% in six games (4-2-0). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -200 home favorites against a Buffalo team whose three-game winning streak snapped in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Goalie Start
Wedgewood is expected to start vs. Buffalo on Thursday.
Wedgewood has only played once since December 12th, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on December 20th. Still, the 32-year-old netminder has been solid in limited action with Colorado, posting an impressive 1.93 GAA and .932 SV% in six games (4-2-0). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -200 home favorites against a Buffalo team whose three-game winning streak snapped in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Colorado has signed Keaton Middleton to a two-year, contract extension.
Middleton was the fourth-round pick, 101st overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has been a product of the Avalanche since the 2020-21 season but had only played three NHL games before this season. In 10 games this season, the 26-year-old Middleton is averaging 10:31 time-on-ice and has zero points, 10 blocks, and 14 hits. He signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV).
Goalie Start
Blackwood will start vs. Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Colorado will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for a third straight game on Tuesday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been tremendous since joining the Avalanche earlier this month, posting a superb 1.82 GAA and .940 SV% in five games (4-1-0). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as sizeable -202 home favorites against a Jets club that played last night, defeating the Nashville Predators 3-0.
Middleton is expected to draw into Colorado's lineup on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.
Calvin de Haan will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Middleton to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Middleton is averaging 10:31 time-on-ice and has zero points, nine blocks, and 13 hits in nine games this season.
Ivan (upper-body) is considered week-to-week and has been placed on IR.
Ivan played a season-low 5:07 time-on-ice in Colorado's most recent game and was absent from practice on Monday and Tuesday, expecting to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. The 22-year-old Czech forward has eight points (5G / 3A) in 37 games this season.
Goalie Start
Blackwood is expected to start vs. Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Colorado will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for a third straight game on Tuesday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been tremendous since joining the Avalanche earlier this month, posting a superb 1.82 GAA and .940 SV% in five games (4-1-0). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as sizeable -202 home favorites against a Jets club that played last night, defeating the Nashville Predators 3-0.