Middleton did not play in Colorado's previous game but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Middleton is averaging 11:16 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 34 games this season.
Vesey recorded a -1 plus/minus in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames and will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Vesey has six points (4G / 2A) in 37 games this season.
The Canucks have lost two straight (0-1-1) and are desperate for a win as their hopes for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference begin to dwindle. The 29-year-old Demko allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He has a 2.84 GAA and .892 SV% in 20 appearances this season (8-7-3). The Canucks enter Wednesday's contest as -155 home favorites against a Seattle Kraken team that defeated them 6-3 on March 1st.
Megna played 44 games with the Blackhawks last season but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 16 points (2G / 14A) in 64 games with the Charlotte Checkers. In a corresponding move, Tobias Bjornot has been sent down to Charlotte.
Bjornot has only played 11 games with the Panthers this season, averaging 13:06 time-on-ice and scoring zero points, and has been re-assigned to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). In a corresponding move, the Panthers have recalled Jaycob Megna.
Wedgewood and the Avalanche had a 2-0 lead over the Calgary Flames midway through the third period on Monday but ultimately lost the contest 3-2 in a shootout. He will return to the crease on Wednesday, looking to redeem himself with a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Wedgewood has been excellent in limited action for the Avalanche this season, posting a 2.01 GAA and .919 SV% in 16 appearances (10-4-1). Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as enormous -381 road favorites against a Blackhawks team that has lost 10 of their last 11 (1-10-0).
Malkin has not played the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but looks poised to rejoin the club at some point on their upcoming three-game road trip. The 38-year-old Malkin is averaging 17:54 time-on-ice and has 46 points (15G / 31A) in 62 games this season, the worst point-per-game pace of his career (0.74).
Ethan Del Mastro will draw back into Chicago's lineup on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, making Korchinski the odd man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. Korchinski has only played 11 games with the Blackhawks this season, averaging 17:10 time-on-ice and recording a -7 plus/minus.
Kevin Korchinski will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, replacing Del Mastro. The 22-year-old Del Mastro is averaging 18:16 time-on-ice in his first NHL season, tallying five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games.
The Blackhawks have lost 10 of their last 11 games (1-10-0) and will turn to Knight between the pipes on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 23-year-old Knight has allowed four goals in three straight games (1-2-0), posting an ugly .826 SV%. He has a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in 32 appearances this season (15-14-1). The Blackhawks enter Wednesday's contest as significant +321 home underdogs against an Avalanche team coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.
Lavoie was a third-round pick, 89th overall, of the Utah Hockey Club in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman has spent the past three seasons with the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL), including scoring 55 points (15G / 40A) in 60 gams in 2024-25.
Samanski is an undrafted German forward that has spent the past five seasons playing in Germany (DEL). The 23-year-old scored 40 points (14G / 26A) in 52 games with the Straubing Tigers.
Declan Chisholm will draw back into Minnesota's lineup on Wednesday against the New York Rangers, resulting in Merrill being a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Merrill is averaging 14:14 time-on-ice and only has six points (2G / 4A) in 64 games but has scored two (1G / 1A) in his last three.
Jon Merrill will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the New York Rangers, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Chisholm last played on March 24th and has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 61 games this season.
Minnesota has lost four of their last five (1-3-1) and will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Wednesday as they hang on to the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Despite a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils, Gustavsson played well in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%). The 26-year-old netminder had a dazzling 1.98 GAA and .930 SV% through 13 games in March (7-4-2). Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +143 road underdogs against a Rangers team coming off a 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks.
Stolarz was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, and will return to the crease on Wednesday against his former team, the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old Stolarz has a solid 2.35 GAA and .919 SV% through 29 games this season (16-8-3). The Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Panthers team that blew a 2-1 lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the final seconds last night en route to an eventual 3-2 overtime loss.
The Avalanche have not released any news regarding Wedgewood but recalled Kevin Mandolese from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on Wednesday, indicating that Wedgewood may be sidelined against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Wedgewood has been excellent in limited action for the Avalanche this season, posting a 2.01 GAA and .919 SV% in 16 appearances (10-4-1).
Scott Wedgewood was shaken up at practice on Tuesday after being hit in the head with a puck, likely leading to Mandolese being called up. The 24-year-old Mandolese has a 2.86 GAA and .905 SV% in 17 games (10-6-0) with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
Sturm exited Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens early in the first period after only 0:34 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Sturm is averaging 10:06 time-on-ice and has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 58 games this season. An update on his status will likely be provided before the Panthers return to the ice on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Rangers hope they can carry the momentum from a 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday as they turn to Shesterkin on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. Statistically speaking, Shesterkin is far and away having the worst season of his six-year career, posting a 2.84 GAA and .906 SV% through 55 games this season (24-26-5). With the Rangers desperately trying to stay within reach of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, they will need Shesterkin to make more of an impact than he has in his last six games (1-4-1), where he has a 3.25 GAA and .900 SV%. Still, the Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as -158 home favorites against a Wild team battling for their respective Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
