Colorado Avalanche News

Under the terms of the joint program, Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months and then will be eligible to apply for reinstatement.

Toews was hit high by Dallas' captain Jamie Benn in the second period of Game 2 and was forced to leave before returning in the third period and is not feeling any effects on Friday according to head coach Jared Bednar. The 30-year-old has been a staple on Colorado's back-end all playoffs, with a goal, five points, 10 SOG and +5 plus/minus while averaging 23:49 TOI/GP.

Georgiev stopped 19 of 22 shots in the Avalanche's come from behind win in Game 1. Georgiev was absolutely lit up in his first start of the playoffs but has gone 5-0 with 2.12 GAA and .921 SV% in five games since. Tonight he'll backstop the Avalanche as +118 road underdogs, who are looking to take the series back to Colorado up 2-0.

Drouin missed all of Colorado's opening series win over Winnipeg due to a lower-body injury but travelled with the team to Dallas and took part in practice for the first time since his injury on Wednesday. The 29-year-old is one step closer to a return which is a great sign for Colorado after he posted career highs in points (56), and plus/minus (+12) across 79 games played during the regular season.

Wagner has yet to appear in the playoffs for Colorado but will draw into the lineup for Nikolai Kovalenko and play on the third line. The 32-year-old had one goal and one assist in 13 games played with the Avalanche during the regular season while averaging just 7:27 TOI/GP.

Kovalenko appeared in two games during Colorado's opening series win over Winnipeg but will head to the press box for the Avalanche's opening game in Dallas. The 24-year-old will be replaced by Chris Wagner after failing to pick up a point while averaging just below 7 minutes TOI.

Despite allowing seven goals in Colorado's playoff-opening loss, Georgiev led the Avalanche to four straight wins and a series-opening victory over Winnipeg with his stellar play and 4-1-0 record, .900 SV% and 3.03 GAA. The 28-year-old will unsurprisingly take the crease on Tuesday for Game 1 in Dallas after leading the NHL in wins (38) for a second straight season in 2023-24. He will head to Dallas to take on the Stars, who finished a hard-fought seven-game series vs. Vegas on Sunday with a 2-1 victory at home.

Drouin missed Colorado's entire opening series vs. Winnipeg due to a lower-body injury but will travel with the Avalanche for their upcoming two opening games in Dallas and has a chance to return. The 29-year-old had a phenomenal first season in Colorado, with 19 goals, 56 points, 127 SOG, 28 PIMs and a +12 in 79 games played while mostly occupying a top-six role.

Kiviranta missed the Avalanche's previous two games due to an undisclosed injury and is a game-time decision for Game 1 vs. Dallas after missing practice on Monday. The 28-year-old averaged 10:14 TOI/GP in the opening series and had an assist, two PIMs, three SOG and a +2 plus/minus in three games.

No surprise here as the Avalanche will roll with their starting netminder as they look to eliminate the Jets in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. Georgiev has rebounded admirably since a dreadful performance in Game 1, winning three straight games and posting a .938 SV% in the process. The 27-year-old now owns a 2.70 GAA and a .907 SV% in 13 career playoff games. He and the Avalanche enter action on Tuesday as slight favourites at -120.

Kiviranta did not play Sunday's 5-1 game-four victory over the Winnipeg Jets and could miss a second straight game. In the series' first three games, Kiviranta tallied one assist and nine hits while averaging 10:14 ice time.