Colorado Avalanche News

Helm has yet to play this season but is on the mend now that he has completed abductor surgery. The 2021-22 Stanley Cup Champion has 266 points across 812 career NHL games played.

de Haan was forced to take a seat in the press box Wednesday but will find his way back into the lineup vs. the Oilers Thursday. In seven games so far in 2022-23, he has one goal and a -2 plus/minus rating.

Ranta has previously played in 10 NHL games without picking up a point and posting a -4 plus/minus but will make his 2022-23 debut with the Avalanche Thursday. In 10 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) prior to his promotion, he had a goal and an assist along with eight PIMs and a -5 plus/minus rating.

Georgiev was great in his previous outing, stopping 31 of 32 shots (.969 SV%) as he won both back-to-back games in Finland vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets. Since being acquired from the Rangers in the offseason, he has posted a 6-1-1 record with a 2.61 GAA and .925 SV%. He takes on the Nashville Predators who have struggled offensively this season, ranking 29th in the NHL in GF/GP with 2.62 and 25th in SOG/Gp with only 29.9 per game.

With the Avalanche losing a few players due to injury earlier this week, Sampo Ranta has been recalled from the Colorado Eagles (AHL). In 10 AHL games played this year with the Eagles he has one goal and one assist and is a -5 plus/minus prior to his promotion.

Girard's lower-body injury comes as somewhat of a surprise after he played a season high 23:19 TOI in the Avalanche's second game in Finland Nov. 5th vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets his last time out. It is a tough blow for the injured Avalanche who also announced Bowen Byram is week-to-week earlier Tuesday.

Nichuskin will undergo ankle surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after missing the Avalanches' last four games. This is a terrible loss for the 27-year-old, who was enjoying the best season of his career to date prior to the injury, scoring seven goals and 12 points in his first seven games played.

Nichuskin has missed the Avalanche's last two games due to a lower-body injury but was on the ice for warmups Friday in Finland before heading off prematurely. He is now announced out for Friday's game and will be reevaluated before their second game Saturday. He shares the Avalanche lead in points alongside Nathan MacKinnon with 12 points (7G/5A) in seven games.

Nichushkin has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but was skating on the top line and top power-play unit in Thursday's practice. Head coach Jared Bednar called him a game-time decision, so monitor his status as the Avalanche hit the ice in Finland at 1:30 PM ET.

de Haan has not played since October 22nd due to an undisclosed injury. In four games this season, he has one goal and is a -1 plus/minus while averaging 12:18 TOI.

Parker Kelly will head to the press box for Derick Brassard Thursday vs. Tampa Bay for the first time this season. The 23-year-old has yet to acquire a point this season through nine games, but does have 18 PIMs while only getting two SOG.

Drouin finds himself back in Montreal's lineup after missing three games so far in 2022-23. The 27-year-old has two assists and four SOG through his first six games this season while playing only 14:18 ATOI.