Colorado Avalanche News

Wood (abdominal) is good to go for Friday vs. Anaheim after leaving last game due to injury.

Wood left Wednesday’s loss vs. Boston with an undisclosed injury after just 12:46 TOI but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. A myriad of injuries for the Avalanche thrust Wood onto their top line alongside Logan O'Connor and Nathan MacKinnon, where he should return on Friday night.

Miles Wood
Blackwood will start on Friday in Winnipeg.

The Sharks will continue their early-season goalie rotation and return to Blackwood between the pipes for the third time in their first five games. Blackwood was excellent in his last outing, despite a 3-2 losing effort in a shootout to the Dallas Stars, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%). The Sharks are one of three teams without a win this season (0-2-2) and enter Friday's contest as significant +317 road underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets, one of three clubs without a loss this season (3-0-0).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Wood (arm) has a possibility to play on Friday vs. Anaheim.

Wood left Wednesday’s loss vs. Boston with an undisclosed injury after just 12:46 TOI but could return to the lineup on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. A myriad of injuries for the Avalanche had thrust Wood onto their top line alongside Logan O'Connor and Nathan MacKinnon.

Miles Wood
Wood (undisclosed) left Wednesday’s game vs. Boston and did not return.

Colorado’s list of key injuries continues to grow after Miles Wood left Wednesday’s loss vs. Boston with an undisclosed injury after just 12:46 TOI. Coach Jared Bednar did not have any updates in Colorado’s post-game press conference and confirm Wood was still being evaluated.

Miles Wood
Toews (lower-body) is out on Wednesday vs. Boston.

Toews was a surprise scratch before Monday's contest against the New York Islanders, with his absence not being announced before warmups. Oliver Kylington drew into the lineup as his replacement. Toews' impending absence for a second straight game will be a major blow for the Avalanche, one of only four clubs without a win this season (0-3-0).

Devon Toews
Stienburg is expected to make his NHL debut on Wednesday vs. Boston.

Stienburg was the 63rd overall pick of the Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and will make his NHL debut on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. The 24-year-old Halifax native has amassed 16 points (6G / 10A) in 60 games over the last three seasons with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Matthew Stienburg
Toews (lower-body) is a game-time decision on Wednesday vs. Boston.

Toews was a surprise scratch before Monday's contest against the New York Islanders, with his absence not being announced before warmups. Oliver Kylington drew into the lineup as his replacement. If Toews cannot suit again, it will be a major blow for the Avalanche, one of only four clubs without a win this season (0-3-0).

Devon Toews
Blackwood will start on Tuesday in Dallas.

The Sharks, winless in their first two games (0-1-1), will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time early in the season. Blackwood struggled in his first outing allowing five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Blackwood had a 3.45 GAA, .899 SV%, and two shutouts in 44 appearances for the Sharks last season (10-25-4). The Sharks enter action on Tuesday as sizeable +294 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 9-3 so far this season (3-0-0).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice at San Jose's morning skate.

The Sharks, winless in their first two games (0-1-1), will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for the second time early in the season. Blackwood struggled in his first outing allowing five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Blackwood had a 3.45 GAA, .899 SV%, and two shutouts in 44 appearances for the Sharks last season (10-25-4). The Sharks enter action on Tuesday as sizeable +294 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 9-3 so far this season (3-0-0).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Wedgewood will start the Predators' season opener against the Stars on Thursday.

With starting netminder Juuse Saros temporarily sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Wedgewood will make his Predators debut in a matchup against his former club, the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood was a steadying force as the backup goalie for the Stars for three seasons, posting a reliable 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in 61 appearances (28-16-11). The vastly improved Predators enter action as +109 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club they are expected to battle with for supremacy in the Central Division this season.

Scott Wedgewood
Wedgewood was the first goalie off the ice at the Predators' morning skate.

Head Coach Andrew Brunette stated the team has not decided on a starter due to injuries but with starting netminder Juuse Saros temporarily sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Wedgewood looks likely to make his Predators debut in a matchup against his former club, the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood was a steadying force as the backup goalie for the Stars for three seasons, posting a reliable 2.83 GAA and .907 SV% in 61 appearances (28-16-11). The vastly improved Predators enter action as +109 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club they are expected to battle with for supremacy in the Central Division this season.

Scott Wedgewood
Blackwood will start San Jose's season opener on Thursday vs. St.Louis.

Yaroslav Askarov missed the entirety of training camp so he will begin the season with the San Jose Baracuda (AHL), leaving Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek to duel it out for the Sharks crease. Blackwood was serviceable last season, especially considering the Sharks ranked 31st offensively with 181 goals, posting a 3.45 GAA and .899 SV% in 44 games (10-25-4). After finishing dead last in the NHL last season, the Sharks should improve this season but still enter their opening night matchup as +140 home underdogs against the St. Louis Blues.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Lehkonen (shoulder) is still considered week-to-week.

Lehkonen has a check-in at the end of the month on the same shoulder he had surgery on in May and is not expected to return to the Avalanche until after the check-up is complete. The 29-year-old should find himself back in his top-six role when able to return and will hope to produce as efficiently as he did in 2023-24, with 16 goals and 34 points in 45 injury-plagued games played.

Artturi Lehkonen
Colorado has claimed John Ludvig off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ludvig was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on Friday and has been claimed by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. The 24-year-old defenseman spent his entire rookie season in 2023-24 with Pittsburgh and had three goals, five points and 47 PIMs in 33 games played.

John Ludvig
Lehkonen (shoulder) practiced in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday.

Lehkonen is expected to miss the start of the regular season due to offseason shoulder surgery. According to head coach Jared Bednar, they are trying to give him as long as they can without contact, but once he's cleared it won't be long before he returns to the lineup. With Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin both expected to miss the start of the season, newcomers Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko could get a look in the Avalanche top-6 early on.

Artturi Lehkonen