MacKinnon participated in the team's optional practice on Tuesday and head coach Jared Bednar expects to have him back in the lineup on Wednesday. The Avalanche went 1-1-1 in three games without MacKinnon but his return will provide a massive boost for a team still dealing with a ton of injuries.
MacKinnon skated in a non-contact sweater during Monday's morning skate but will not play vs. the Coyotes. Head coach Jared Bednar said that MacKinnon is "doing great" and could play in their next game.
Parise was a healthy scratch on Wednesday but will draw right back into the lineup on Friday. Parise, who has nine points (3G / 6A) in 19 games, will skate on a line with Nick Bjugstad and Kevin Fiala.
Since the Wild returned to action in mid-February, Parise has one goal and three assists in eight games. Parise played just 13:44 TOI on Monday and will be scratched in favour of Gerald Mayhew on Wednesday.
With Makar out for a second straight game, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard are expected to play massive minutes on Monday, as they did over the weekend. The next time we could see Makar is Friday vs. the Ducks.
O’Connor played 9:09 TOI on Wednesday but will come out of the lineup on Friday with Brandon Saad (personal) drawing back in.
MacDonald has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace Conor Timmins in the lineup on Friday. MacDonald has one goal in six career NHL games.
Colton is a 24-year-old, former fourth-overall pick who has spent the last two years in Syracuse (AHL). He had 42 points (11G / 32A) in 62 games last year and has one goal and two assists in three games to start 2021.
