Colorado Avalanche News

The NHL has suspended Gabriel Landeskog for three games for cross checking Simon Despres.

Landeskog cross-checked Ducks’ defenseman Simon Despres in the head during Wednesday’s win and has been suspended for the next three games. With Landeskog suspended, Andreas Martinsen will return to the lineup. The Avalanche captain is eligible to return to the lineup next Sunday in Edmonton.

Gabriel Landeskog
Nichushkin (lower-body) will be back in the Stars lineup on Sunday.

Nichushkin was scratched from last night’s game because of a lower-body injury, but will get back in the lineup tonight. There was no indication on who would come out to make room for Nichushkin, but we will find out in warmups. Nichushkin has just 13 points (4G / 9A) this season and hasn’t registered a point since December 15th.

Valeri Nichushkin
Nichushkin is expected to me back in the lineup on Saturday.

Nichushkin served as a healthy scratch in the last two games, but with injuries to Patrick Eaves, Curtis McKenzie and Travis Moen, the Stars will put Nichushkin back in the lineup on Saturday. The 20-year-old winger, who had five shots on goal in the first two games, will skate on the second line with Jason Spezza and Colton Sceviour vs. the Panthers.

Valeri Nichushkin
Avalanche plan to use MacKinnon as their third line centre to begin the season.

McKinnon has played the majority of his young career on the wing, but if they use MacKinnon in the middle it allows the Avalanche to give 18-year-old Mikko Rantanen a shot in the NHL and opens the door for Curtis Glencross and Jack Skille a chance to make the team on PTO’s. If MacKinnon indeed ends up on the third line, look for Rantanen and Blake Comeau to play on his wings.

Nathan MacKinnon
Nelson is expected to be a healthy scratch in Game 5.

Nelson, 23, had two goals in Game 1, but has been held off of the scoresheet, while only recording two shots and a minus-2 rating in the last three games. With Mikhail Grabovski coming back tonight, Nelson will get a chance to watch the game from the press box.

Brock Nelson