Colorado Avalanche News

Kiviranta exited Thursday's 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers after only 3:58 time-on-ice due to a concern with his eye, but he may be able to suit up on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. The 29-year-old Kiviranta missed over a month earlier this season because of a lower-body injury. He has two points (1G / 1A) through 14 games in a fourth-line role this season.

An NHL veteran of over 600 games, Kulak was a regular presence this season on the Oilers' third defensive pair, averaging 17:42 time-on-ice through 31 games. The 31-year-old defenseman will add a veteran presence to a Penguins defensive core with several inexperienced blueliners.

Blackwood started three straight games while Scott Wedgewood was injured, but it appears the Avalanche will return to an even goalie rotation after Wedgewood made his return on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Blackwood returns to the crease against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, following a 23-save performance (.920 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Colorado has received exceptional goaltending regardless of who is tending the twine, and Blackwood has been no exception, posting an excellent 2.21 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 games (8-1-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -224 home favorites against a Panthers team that played last night and is riding a three-game winning streak.

Gavin Brindley (lower body) will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers, resulting in Bardakov heading the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Bardakov, in his first NHL season, has five points (1G / 4A) in 25 games.

Brindley has not played since November 20th, tending to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. The 21-year-old forward has seven points (4G / 3A) in 18 games this season. Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Brindley's return.

Blackwood started three straight games while Scott Wedgewood was injured, but it appears the Avalanche will return to an even goalie rotation after Wedgewood made his return on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Blackwood returns to the crease against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, following a 23-save performance (.920 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Colorado has received exceptional goaltending regardless of who is tending the twine, and Blackwood has been no exception, posting an excellent 2.21 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 games (8-1-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as significant -224 home favorites against a Panthers team that played last night and is riding a three-game winning streak.

Brindley has not played since November 20th due to a lower-body injury and will be held out of the lineup again on Tuesday. The 21-year-old forward has four goals and three assists in 18 games this season.

Necas has been outstanding in his first full season with Colorado. The 27-year-old forward had a career-high 83 points (27G / 56A) in 79 games last season and is pacing to shatter those totals in 2025-26, with 39 points (14G / 25A) in 29 games, a 110-point pace in 82 games.

Necas has been outstanding in his first full season with Colorado, but could miss his first game due to illness. The 27-year-old forward had a career-high 83 points (27G / 56A) in 79 games last season and is pacing to shatter those totals in 2025-26, with 39 points (14G / 25A) in 29 games, a 110-point pace in 82 games.

Wedgewood has not played since suffering a lower-body injury a week ago, but he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old Wedgewood is having a storybook season with Colorado, posting a superb 2.07 GAA and .920 SV% in 19 games (13-1-3). Colorado enters the action on Tuesday as sizable -202 road favorites against a Nashville Predators team amid their best six-game stretch of the season (4-2-0).

Wedgewood is not expected to be out long-term, but will not play on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The Avalanche recalled Trent Miner to serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup on Thursday, and he could draw into a game during a back-to-back this weekend if Wedgewood remains sidelined.

Colorado has been alternating goalies in recent weeks, but with Scott Wedgewood (lower body) sidelined, Blackwood's return to the crease on Thursday was seemingly inevitable. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been outstanding lately, posting a 0.50 GAA, .979 SV%, and two shutouts in his last four appearances (4-0-0). He has a 1.84 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -180 road favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Colorado has been alternating goalies in recent weeks, but with Scott Wedgewood (lower body) sidelined, Blackwood's return to the crease on Thursday was seemingly inevitable. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been outstanding lately, posting a 0.50 GAA, .979 SV%, and two shutouts in his last four appearances (4-0-0). He has a 1.84 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -180 road favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.