Pavel Francouz will not play Thursday as he is day-to-day (illness).
Colorado Avalanche News
Goalie Start
Scott Wedgewood starts Tuesday vs. New Jersey.
Wedgewood last took the crease on Dec. 4th when he stopped 14 of 15 shots (.933 SV%) in an overtime loss to Minnesota. The Stars' backup has been solid this season, with his 5-4-2 record, .908 SV% and 3.05 GAA. He takes on the New Jersey Devils, who are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.68) and fourth in shots (34.7).
Goalie Start
Francouz will start Tuesday vs. the Flyers.
Francouz will draw his second straight start after stopping 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. The Avalanche's backup has been up and down this season as shown by his 3-5-0 record, .911 SV% and 2.91 GAA. He takes on the Philadelphia Flyers, whose only win in the last five contests came against the Colorado Avalanche as they defeated them 5-3 last Monday.
Goalie Start
Francouz was the first goalie off of the ice at the Avalanche morning skate.
Francouz will draw his second straight start after stopping 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. The Avalanche's backup has been up and down this season as shown by his 3-5-0 record, .911 SV% and 2.91 GAA. He takes on the Philadelphia Flyers, whose only win in the last five contests came against the Colorado Avalanche as they defeated them 5-3 last Monday.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been assigned to Utica (AHL) on a conditioning loan.
Blackwood last played on Nov. 3rd and left early due to a knee injury. Monday he was reassigned to Utica (AHL) on a conditioning basis. When he does return he will be hoping for better luck than his first seven games with the Devils, where he was 4-2-0 with a .880 SV% and 2.79 GAA.
Lehkonen (upper-body) will return to the Avalanche lineup on Sunday.
Goalie Start
Francouz will start Sunday afternoon in St. Louis.
Nichushkin (ankle) will be back in the Avalanche lineup on Friday.
Valeri Nichuskin is a game-time decision Friday vs. the Rangers (foot).
Nichuskin has not played since October 25th due to a foot injury but is a game-time decision Friday to return to the injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche. Prior to his injury, the 27-year-old was one of the NHL's hottest players with seven goals, five assists and 26 SOG through only seven games to start the season.
Sampo Ranta has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Ranta had three goals, three assists and eight PIMs across 14 games with the Colorado Eagles prior to his promotion to the Avalanche Wednesday. Ranta failed to pick up a point in his previous five-games with the Avalanche and will hope for a call-up again soon to pick up his first career point in 15 GP when he does make his way back into the lineup.
Line Change
Parker Kelly will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Dallas.
Kelly will head to the press box as the odd man out for the second time this season as Ottawa takes on Dallas Thursday. Kelly has struggled this season, collecting only one assist, 18 PIMs and 16 SOG through 24 GP while playing limited minutes averaging 8:43 TOI.
Josh Manson will be out for a month after he was placed on the injured reserve (lower body).
Manson left the Avalanches' game on Dec. 1st vs. Buffalo with a lower-body injury after playing only 10:17 TOI. It is yet another injury for Colorado, which is without several key roster pieces. Manson has two goals, six points and 40 PIMs through 21 games this season.
Sampo Ranta was recalled from the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Ranta had three goals, three assists and eight PIMs across 14 games with the Colorado Eagles prior to his promotion to the Avalanche Wednesday. Ranta failed to pick up a point in his previous four-game stint with the Avalanche a few weeks back and will hope to pick up his first career point in 14 GP when he does make his way back into the lineup.
MacKinnon will miss approximately four weeks with an upper-body injury.
MacKinnon left Monday's game in Boston with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss at least one month. If MacKinnon is out for exactly four weeks, he'll miss 14 games and will be back around early-to-mid January. The Avalanche are incredibly banged up right now, so their lineup will likely be very fluid for the next few games.
Foudy (undisclosed) is day-to-day; will not play on Monday.
Foudy has no points in three games since being called up from the AHL. He's day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, so look for Martin Kaut to draw back into the lineup to replace him.
Lehkonen (upper-body) is day-to-day; will not play on Monday.
Lehkonen was hurt in Boston on Saturday and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. With Lehkonen sidelined, Charles Hudon was recalled from the Avalanche and will make his debut on Monday. Alex Newhook will move up to the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
The Avalanche have recalled Charles Hudon from Colorado (AHL).
Hudon could make his Avalanche debut on Monday after being called up to (most likely) replace Artturi Lehkonen on Monday. Hudon has scored eight goals and eight assists (16 points) in 20 AHL games this season.
Lehkonen is questionable to play Monday due to an upper-body injury.
Lehkonen suffered an upper-body injury in Boston on Saturday and is questionable to play Monday. The Avalanche recalled Charles Hudon from the AHL on Sunday, a sign that Lehkonen will not be available.
Manson has returned to Colorado and is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Goalie Start
Francouz will start Saturday in Boston.