Colorado Avalanche News

Wagner missed Sunday's game in New York but draws back into the lineup on Tuesday. Wagner has just two assists in 10 games this season but ranks in the top-20 in the NHL in hits (3.1 hits/gm). He'll skate in his familiar fourth-line spot tonight.

The Avalanche are already without Mikko Rantanen on a week-to-week basis and now Landeskog could miss an extended period of time with a lower-body issue. This is a massive blow for the Avalanche and leaves Nathan MacKinnon on an island on their top-line. The Avalanche should release a more detailed timetable in the coming days.

Poolman missed Tuesday's game against the Kings with an undisclosed injury but will replace Ville Heinola in the Heritage Classic. Poolman has one goal in 10 games this season.

Manson had to be helped off of the ice after crashing into the boards in Dallas on Thursday and will miss the Ducks two-game weekend road-trip. Korbinian Holzer moved up to help replace Manson vs. the Stars and Erik Gudbranson was acquired from the Penguins and could make his Ducks debut on Saturday.

Vesey played just 6:08 last year before leaving the contest. Vesey is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, which suggests that he won’t play in Detroit on Friday. Expect Evan Rodrigues to replace him in the lineup.

Blackwood stopped all 25 shots that he faced in the Devils shutout win over the Canucks last Saturday. Blackwood lost his first three starts of the season but has since won two in a row while stopping 54 of the 56 shots (.964 SV%) that he has faced. Tonight he faces a Coyotes team that has won four of their last five, but come in on the tail-end of a back-to-back.

Poolman has averaged 15:21 TOI/gm in his first 10 games of the season but will come out of the lineup on Tuesday. Anthony Bitetto will draw back into the Jets lineup, replacing Poolman against the Kings.

Francouz made 34 saves on 36 shots in Colorado’s win over the Coyotes last Saturday. It was an impressive season debut for Francouz, who is now 1-2-0 with a 1.94 GAA and .944 SV% in his first three NHL appearances. The 29-year-old looks like a serviceable NHL backup and will make a good spot-start option some nights, but not tonight in Tampa Bay.

Blackwood allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Devils win over the Rangers on Thursday. Blackwood secured the Devils’ first win of the season and earned himself a second-straight start this afternoon. Today he faces a Vancouver team that is 4-2-0 and is averaging the 11th most goals per game (3.33 GF/pg).

MacKinnon is dealing with a lower-body injury and is questionable for Friday's game in Florida. If MacKinnon is unable to play, head coach Jared Bednar said that Nazem Kadri will move up and centre the first line and J.T. Compher will centre the second line.

Blackwood allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Devils’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Oilers last Thursday. Cory Schneider started the last two games but Blackwood will start tonight vs. the Rangers. Somehow the Rangers have only played in three games but their offence has been hot to start the season. This could be a high-scoring affair, making Blackwood a low-end starter on a nine-game slate.

Nichushkin has just one assist in his first five games with the Avalanche and will rest Wednesday in Pittsburgh. J.T. Compher is returning from a lower-body injury, replacing Nichushkin in their bottom-6.

It will be the first start of Francouz's career, although he did make a pair of relief appearances last season, stopping 33 of the 35 shots he faced in those two games. He registered a 27-20-1 record with the AHL's Colorado Eagles last season, posting a 2.68 GAA and a .918 SV%. He's worth considering for a spot start against Arizona if you're desperate for goalie stats.