Colorado Avalanche News

Nichuskin has missed the Avalanche's last two games due to a lower-body injury but was on the ice for warmups Friday in Finland before heading off prematurely. He is now announced out for Friday's game and will be reevaluated before their second game Saturday. He shares the Avalanche lead in points alongside Nathan MacKinnon with 12 points (7G/5A) in seven games.

Nichushkin has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but was skating on the top line and top power-play unit in Thursday's practice. Head coach Jared Bednar called him a game-time decision, so monitor his status as the Avalanche hit the ice in Finland at 1:30 PM ET.

Blackwood stopped 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in his last start. Despite his 4-2-0 record, the netminder has struggled this season with a .879 SV% and 2.67 GAA. He draws the tough task of taking on Edmonton, who ranks third in the NHL in goals per game (4.1) and is coming off a 7-4 win over Nashville.

Wedgewood stopped 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) to earn his first victory of the season in a 5-2 win over LA Tuesday. Through four games, he has a .895 SV% and 3.64 GAA to go along with his 1-2-1 record. He faces off against the Arizona Coyotes who are last in the NHL in shots per game averaging only 22.3.

Blackwood stopped 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in his last start. Despite his 4-2-0 record, the netminder has struggled this season with a .879 SV% and 2.67 GAA. He draws the tough task of taking on Edmonton, who ranks third in the NHL in goals per game (4.1) and is coming off a 7-4 win over Nashville.

Parker Kelly will head to the press box for Derick Brassard Thursday vs. Tampa Bay for the first time this season. The 23-year-old has yet to acquire a point this season through nine games, but does have 18 PIMs while only getting two SOG.

Drouin finds himself back in Montreal's lineup after missing three games so far in 2022-23. The 27-year-old has two assists and four SOG through his first six games this season while playing only 14:18 ATOI.

Wedgewood is coming off a tough loss on Saturday vs the Rangers where he allowed four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%) after getting peppered in relief after Jake Oettinger left in the second period due to injury. Wedgewood is still looking for his first win of 2022-23, posting a 0-2-1 record along with his .880 SV% and 4.29 GAA. He takes on the high-scoring LA Kings who rank sixth in the NHL in GF/GP (3.64) and won their last two games after a victory Monday, as they easily handled the Blues 5-1 in the first of their back-to-back games.

Nichuskin will not dress Friday vs. the Devils after head coach Jared Bednar announced he is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. It is a huge blow for the Avalanche who will now be without their top goal and point scorer as Nichuskin had seven goals and five assists through his first seven games to start 2022-23.

Francouz will get his first start in a week after losing his previous game 3-2 to Seattle, stopping 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%) in the loss. He will be looking to improve his .877 SV% and 4.10 GAA as he tries to pick up his first win in three starts this season. The Avalanche will take on the New Jersey Devils who have won three of their last four games and are coming off an impressive 6-2 win over the Red Wings Tuesday.

Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Tuesday morning that Devon Toews would return to the Avalanche lineup after missing the last two games due to an undisclosed injury. Through four games so far this season, he has three assists with four SOG while averaging 21:03 TOI.

Blackwood stopped 20 of 21 shots in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in his previous start Saturday. He will look to continue his hot run of late after he went 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .932 SV% last week. He faces a Capitals team that is coming off a 4-3 win over LA and ranks 19th in the NHL for GF/GP (3.17) so far.

Poolman was a game-time decision earlier Monday before getting placed on the injured reserve due to an undisclosed injury. It is a tough loss for the struggling Canucks who are the only NHL team yet to win so far in 2022-23. Poolman had one assist through his first three games prior to the injury.

Wedgewood will draw the first start of the Stars' back-to-back games after losing his previous start in overtime 3-2 after stopping 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%). He will hope to keep Dallas' point streak alive as they have gotten a point in each game to start the 2022-23 season (4-0-1). They head to Ottawa to take on a Senators team that has won their last two games impressively scoring 11 goals between the two victories.

Wedgewood will draw the first start of the Stars' back-to-back games after losing his previous start in overtime 3-2 after stopping 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%). He will hope to keep Dallas' point streak alive as they have gotten a point in each game to start the 2022-23 season (4-0-1). They head to Ottawa to take on a Senators team that has won their last two games impressively scoring 11 goals between the two victories.