Colorado Avalanche News

Blackwood will look to keep things rolling on Sunday with a third straight victory after almost single handedly willing the Sharks to their first two wins of the season. Blackwood allowed just three goals on 80 shots (.963 SV%) across a pair of victories over the Flyers and Oilers. Despite the hot streak, the 27-year-old netminder remains a risky start in Anaheim on Sunday, but the high amount of shots he's destined to face does leave him with a lot of upside in points leagues and other fantasy formats that reward saves. The Sharks are giving up an astounding 38 shots per game on the season.

Blackwood was the driving force behind the Sharks' first victory of the season on Tuesday, saving 38 of 39 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers. Victory aside, the Sharks are still +288 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that will be desperate to shake out of their funk. After leading the league in offence a season ago (3.96 GF / GP), the Oilers rank 26th in the league (2.64 GF / GP) and, despite their well-documented struggles (2-8-1), remain a threat every night that Connor McDavid takes the ice.

Blackwood was the driving force behind the Sharks' first victory of the season on Tuesday, saving 38 of 39 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers. Victory aside, the Sharks are still +288 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that will be desperate to shake out of their funk. After leading the league in offence a season ago (3.96 GF / GP), the Oilers rank 26th in the league (2.64 GF / GP) and, despite their well-documented struggles (2-8-1), remain a threat every night that Connor McDavid takes the ice.

Ludvig made his NHL debut on October 24th but did not finish the game after suffering a concussion in a collision with Dallas Stars forward Radek Faksa. He has now been placed retroactively on the injured reserve. Ludvig was the 69th overall pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Last season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, Ludvig had 17 points (3G / 14A) in 54 games.

MacDonald did not play on Tuesday after playing in the Sharks' previous two games as he was tending to an undisclosed injury and has since been placed on the injured reserve. The 30-year-old journeyman has 20 points (4G / 16A) through 103 career NHL games.

Blackwood will start on Tuesday and attempt to stop the bleeding for the Sharks, who have been dreadfully outscored 20-3 over their past two contests (0-2-0). Putting it lightly, the Sharks have been abysmal this season, ranking dead last offensively (1.09 GF / GP) and defensively (4.91 GA / GP). Given the team's horrendous start, Blackwood's .879 SV% through eight games (0-6-1) is somewhat admirable, but until the Sharks prove they can compete with other teams, there is very little optimism for whichever goaltender mans their crease.

Blackwood will likely start on Tuesday and attempt to stop the bleeding for the Sharks, who have been dreadfully outscored 20-3 over their past two contests (0-2-0). Putting it lightly, the Sharks have been abysmal this season, ranking dead last offensively (1.09 GF / GP) and defensively (4.91 GA / GP). Given the team's horrendous start, Blackwood's .879 SV% through eight games (0-6-1) is somewhat admirable, but until the Sharks prove they can compete with other teams, there is very little optimism for whichever goaltender mans their crease.

Jake Oettinger will get the night off on Thursday after the Stars starter stopped 43 of 46 shots in last night's 4-3 victory over the Flames. Wedgewood will be hoping to regain some of the form he flashed last season when he posted a .915 SV% across 21 appearances .Thursday night's game in Edmonton will mark Wedgewood's third start of the season. He owns a 1-1-0 record on the season to go along with his .889 SV% and 3.54 GAA. He will have his hands full tonight against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Makar briefly left the Avalanche game on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres after being pushed into the boards by Kyle Okposo but returned shortly after. He has nine points (3G / 6A) in eight games and was a game-time decision on Wednesday.

Makar briefly left the Avalanche game on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres after being pushed into the boards by Kyle Okposo but returned shortly after. He has nine points (3G / 6A) in eight games and is expected to be a game-time decision on Wednesday. Look for Devon Toews to assume his role on the top powerplay unit. If Makar is unable to go, Caleb Jones, who was recalled earlier from the Colorado Eagles (AHL), could be an option to slide into the lineup.

Blackwood struggled his last time out against the Lightning on Thursday, surrendering five goals on 21 shots enroute to a 6-0 defeat. Like the Sharks, Blackwood is winless on the season despite some terrific individual performances. San Jose has scored just eight goals in eight games, and that glaring lack of goal support combined with Blackwood's own inconsistencies leave him with little to no fantasy value. He's nothing more than a desperation play on Sunday in Washington.

Wedgewood will start between the pipes for the second time in the last two games for the Stars as Jake Oettinger will receive a maintenance day. The Stars coaching staff has made it clear that they don't want to overwork Oettinger this season so Wedgewood starting a third of games could be a realistic expectation. Wedgewood was tremendous in a losing effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, saving 40 of 43 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss. The undefeated Stars (4-0-1) are -109 home favourites but will have their work cut out for them against a Maple Leafs team riding a two-game winning streak.

Blackwood will start for the fifth time in six games for the Sharks on Thursday. Despite an 0-3-1 record, Blackwood has had a couple of very strong performances in losing efforts. On Tuesday, he made 32 of 34 saves in a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. On the season as a whole, Blackwood has a 3.47 GAA and .914 SV%, admirable totals playing on a Sharks team that gives him virtually zero goal support (1.33 GF/GP). That said, expectations remain extremely low for Blackwood and the Sharks as they are +250 road underdogs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In his NHL debut on Tuesday, Ludvig made awkward contact with his head when delivering a hit a Dallas Stars' forward Radek Faksa. In a scary scene afterward, Ludvig spent several minutes with the trainers on the ice, regaining his composure. Last season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, Ludvig had 17 points (3G / 14A) in 54 games.