NHL Hockey Player News

Blankenburg is presumably a healthy scratch despite Sam Malinski being unavailable due to injury. Josh Manson and Jack Ahcan will both draw into the lineup.

Sam Malinski is unavailable due to an upper-body injury and Nick Blankenburg is a healthy scratch, giving Ahcan the opportunity to draw in. He’ll skate with Josh Manson on the Avs’ third pair.

Manson has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Game Three of the first round against the Los Aneles Kings, but will return for Game Four against the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.

Kiviranta played the first two games of the postseason for Colorado against the Los Angeles Kings, but has been sidelined since. The 30-year-old Finnish forward averaged 10:22 time-on-ice and scored nine points (3G / 6A) in 51 games during the regular season.

Malinski was a surprise scratch alongside Artturi Lehkonen ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Josh Manson will return from an upper-body injury and fill the void in the Avs lineup left by Malinski.

Lehkonen was a surprise scratch alongside Sam Malinski ahead of Game 4 in Minnesota. Joel Kiviranta will return from an undisclosed injury and fill the void in the Avs lineup left by Lehkonen.

Scott Wedgewood played Colorado's first six postseason games in their entirety, going 6-0, but was replaced by Blackwood in Game Three against the Minnesota Wild after allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in an eventual 5-1 loss. The 29-year-old Blackwood was solid in limited action in Game Three, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%). Blackwood has not started a game in over three weeks, but was solid to end the regular season, posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Colorado will hope to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, entering Game Four as -134 road favourites.

Kiviranta played the first two games of the postseason for Colorado against the Los Angeles Kings, but has been sidelined since. The 30-year-old Finnish forward averaged 10:22 time-on-ice and scored nine points (3G / 6A) in 51 games during the regular season.

Manson has not played since suffering an upper-body injury in Game Three of the first round against the Los Aneles Kings, but could be an option in Game Four against the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old defenseman has two assists and 10 hits through three games this postseason.

Scott Wedgewood played Colorado's first six postseason games in their entirety, going 6-0, but was replaced by Blackwood in Game Three against the Minnesota Wild after allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in an eventual 5-1 loss. The 29-year-old Blackwood was solid in limited action in Game Three, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%). Blackwood has not started a game in over three weeks, but was solid to end the regular season, posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Colorado will hope to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, entering Game Four as -134 road favourites.

After a poor Game One against the Colorado Avalanche, allowing eight goals on 42 shots (.810 SV%) in a 9-6 loss, Wallstedt had the night off in Game Two, as Filip Gustavsson tended the twine in a 5-2 loss. Minnesota returned to Wallstedt in Game Three, and he repaid their trust, returning to the form he showcased in the first round against the Dallas Stars, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 5-1 win, helping his team narrow the series deficit to 2-1. Minnesota enters a pivotal Game Four as +121 home underdogs.

Eriksson Ek had an awkward non-contact fall midway through the third period of Game Six against the Dallas Stars, and has subsequently missed the first three games of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche. Down 2-1 in the series, Minnesota has missed the offensive contributions of Eriksson Ek, who has five points (3G / 2A) through six games this postseason. He will remain sidelined in Game Four.

Jankowski has had trouble being an NHL regular in recent years, but found a home in Carolina this season, and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension. The 31-year-old forward scored 21 points (11G / 10A) this season in 68 games, his highest total since 2018-19.