Colorado Avalanche News

Middleton will slot in for Calvin de Haan, who is a healthy scratch on Friday. Middleton is yet to score a goal and has just one assist in 23 games this season.

Colorado has struggled lately, losing four of their last five (1-3-1), and will turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Blackwood has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in five straight (1-3-1), posting a .874 SV%. He has a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 games with the Avalanche this season (10-5-2). Colorado enters Friday's contest as -175 home favorites against a St. Louis team outscored 11-4 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).

Colorado has struggled lately, losing four of their last five (1-3-1), and will likely turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Blackwood has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in five straight (1-3-1), posting a .874 SV%. He has a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 games with the Avalanche this season (10-5-2). Colorado enters Friday's contest as -175 home favorites against a St. Louis team outscored 11-4 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).

Nichushkin was listed as day-to-day after suffering his injury on January 1st but suffered a setback last week, downgrading his status to week-to-week. Assuming no further setbacks, Nichushkin will miss five more games before returning against the Nashville Predators on February 22nd when the NHL resumes from its two-week hiatus for the Four Nations tournament. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Calvin de Haan will draw back into Colorado's lineup on Tuesday against the New York Islanders, sending Middleton to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Middleton is averaging 10:25 time-on-ice, recording one points (0G / 1A), 15 blocks, and 38 hits in 23 games this season.

Colorado is coming off a roller-coaster 5-4 win over the New York Rangers and will roll with Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Blackwood was outstanding to start his tenure with the Avalanche, allowing fewer than three goals in 12 straight (9-2-1) and posting a sublime .938 SV%. The 28-year-old netminder has not been as dominant since, allowing three or more in four straight (1-2-1), posting a .879 SV%. Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as a -135 road favorite against a New York team amid a four-game winning streak.

Colorado is coming off a roller-coaster 5-4 win over the New York Rangers and will roll with Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Blackwood was outstanding to start his tenure with the Avalanche, allowing fewer than three goals in 12 straight (9-2-1) and posting a sublime .938 SV%. The 28-year-old netminder has not been as dominant since, allowing three or more in four straight (1-2-1), posting a .879 SV%. Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as a -135 road favorite against a New York team amid a four-game winning streak.

The 42nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Drury has performed well in a limited role for the Hurricanes. He tallied eight goals and 19 assists in 74 games last season despite mostly being reduced to a fourth-line role, though his production has tailed off this year with just 12 points (3G/9A) in 39 games. He brings much-needed centre depth to the Avalanche but will inevitably tied to a former franchise icon for years to come.

Necas had an impeccable start to the season, scoring 14 goals with 30 assists (44 points) in his first 30 games. However, he's cooled off considerably in his last 19 games, scoring just twice with nine assists (11 points). Necas should see a significant uptick in minutes in Colorado, where he could land on a line with Nathan MacKinnon.

Ivan has seen some deployment at the AHL level lately where he's tallied two points (1G / 1A) in two games with the Eagles (AHL). The 22-year-old Czech forward has eight points (5G / 3A) in 40 games with the Avalanche but has been held off the scoresheet in 18 straight.

Colorado is coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild when Blackwood allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) but will continue to roll with him between the pipes on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. Blackwood has been outstanding since joining the Avalanche, posting a 1.97 GAA and .928 SV% in 14 games (9-4-1), but has struggled in his last two (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on 54 shots (.870 SV%). Colorado enters the action on Wednesday as a -116 home favorite against a Winnipeg team that defeated them 3-0 less than two weeks ago.

Calvin de Haan will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Malinski to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Malinski is averaging 15:42 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 45 games this season.

Colorado is coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild when Blackwood allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) but will continue to roll with him between the pipes on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. Blackwood has been outstanding since joining the Avalanche, posting a 1.97 GAA and .928 SV% in 14 games (9-4-1), but has struggled in his last two (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on 54 shots (.870 SV%). Colorado enters the action on Wednesday as a -116 home favorite against a Winnipeg team that defeated them 3-0 less than two weeks ago.