Colorado Avalanche News

After an incredible start to the season, filling in for an injured Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) as Colorado's de facto starting netminder, Wedgewood's play has fallen off lately. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is sporting a solid 2.42 GAA and .904 SV% in nine games (5-1-2), but has lost three straight (0-1-2), allowing 11 goals on 52 combined shots (.825 SV%). Colorado will be put to the test on Tuesday, entering their game as -159 home favorites against a New Jersey Devils team leading the league with an 8-1-0 record.

Nielsen had started 2025-26 with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and earned himself a two-year, two-way contract on Monday after picking up three goals and seven points in his first 7 games in the minors.The 25-year-old is in his fifth pro season but has yet to make an NHL appearance despite scoring 14 or more goals in each of his last three minor seasons.

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.