Lehkonen has been sidelined for over three weeks due to an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old Finnish forward was having a solid season before his injury, with 42 points (19G / 23A) through 59 games.
After a shaky start to March, posting a disastrous 4.58 GAA and .794 SV% in four appearances (0-2-0), Blackwood seems to have recovered and returned to his early-season dominance. The 29-year-old Blackwood has saved 39 of the last 42 shots he's faced (.929 SV%) amid a two-game winning streak. The Avalanche enter Thursday's contest as -167 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that is 2-0-1 in its last three games.
Roy has been effective in a bottom six role since being acquired by Colorado, but he is set to be out of the lineup indefinitely. The 28-year-old had five goals in 59 games with Toronto, but already scored three in nine games with Colorado.
Roy was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with the Avalanche not announcing his absence prior to warmups. We should get an update on his status ahead of Colorado's game in Winnipeg on Thursday.
With Logan O'Connor (hip) and Ross Colton (upper body) drawing in Colorado's lineup on Tuesday, Gavin Brindley and Zakhar Bardakov will be healthy scratches. The 25-year-old Bardakov is averaging 7:05 time-on-ice and has 10 points (1G / 9A) in 55 games this season.
With Logan O'Connor (hip) and Ross Colton (upper body) drawing in Colorado's lineup on Tuesday, Gavin Brindley and Zakhar Bardakov will be healthy scratches. The 21-year-old Brindley is averaging 9:33 time-on-ice and has 13 points (6G / 7A) in 56 games this season.
Wedgewood has been excellent lately for the Avalanche and will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 33-year-old Wedgewood saved 17 of 18 shots in his most recent outing (.944 SV%), a 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. Since returning from the Olympic break, Wedgewood has an outstanding 1.65 GAA and .935 SV% in seven appearances (5-1-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as a -154 road favourite against a Penguins team that is 3-1-1 in its last five games.
O'Connor underwent hip surgery last June and has yet to play this season. He started practicing two weeks ago and will make his season debut on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 29-year-old O'Connor has been a reliable bottom-six forward for several seasons with Colorado. He has 21 points (10G / 11A) in 80 games last season.
Svechkov, currently in his second NHL season, was the 19th-overall pick of the Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11:56 time-on-ice and has 13 points (3G / 10A) in 58 games this season.
Hinostroza will draw in along with Nolan Foote and Donovan Sebrango for the tail-end of Florida's back-to-back. They'll slot in for Anton Lundell, Mackie Samoskevich, and Gustav Forsling, who are all out with undisclosed injuries.
Blackwood has struggled immensely in recent games, but he will get a chance to redeem himself on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old goalie allowed four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has an ugly 4.58 GAA and .791 SV% in his last four games (1-3-0). That said, Colorado enters Friday's contest as enormous -321 road favourites against a Blackhawks team that played last night and defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1.
Hinostroza has played the last several games for the Panthers, but after a disappointing 5-2 loss to the league-worst Vancouver Canucks, they will switch things up on Thursday, sending Hinostroza to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old forward is averaging 10:17 time-on-ice and has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 52 games this season.
L'Heureux didn't make his Predators' season debut until after the Olympic break, but has been a lineup regular since, ultimately earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11:51 time-on-ice, recording one goal and 19 hits in 10 games.
Wedgewood will need to forget his performance in Monday's embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing three goals on five shots (.400 SV%), as he returns to the crease on Wednesday in a pivotal Central Division clash with the Dallas Stars. Before Monday's poor outing, the 33-year-old Wedgewood was excelling since returning from the Olympic break, posting an outstanding 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% in five appearances (5-0-0), including saving all 10 shots he faced in a relief performance in a 5-4 shootout win over Dallas two weeks ago. The Avalanche enter Wednesday's contest as -141 home favourites against a Stars team coming off of their first regulation loss in 16 games (14-1-1).
Wedgewood will need to forget his performance in Monday's embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing three goals on five shots (.400 SV%), as he returns to the crease on Wednesday in a pivotal Central Division clash with the Dallas Stars. Before Monday's poor outing, the 33-year-old Wedgewood was excelling since returning from the Olympic break, posting an outstanding 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% in five appearances (5-0-0), including saving all 10 shots he faced in a relief performance in a 5-4 shootout win over Dallas two weeks ago. The Avalanche enter Wednesday's contest as -141 home favourites against a Stars team coming off of their first regulation loss in 16 games (14-1-1).
