Makar was selected No.4 overall in 2017 and signs his entry-level contract after winning the Hobey Baker Award in his sophomore season at UMass-Amherst, where he had 16 goals and 33 assists (49 points) in 41 games. The Avalanche just tied the series up in Calgary and there's a chance that Makar could draw right into the lineup in Games 3 or 4.
Parise, who just returned from an injury, will now likely be shutdown for the season with the flu. Nico Sturm is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday to replace Parise.
Wagner will get the night off as he rests his lower-body injury, so Zach Senyshyn will draw in and make his NHL debut vs. the Wild.
Wagner missed Sunday’s game in Detroit but will replace Danton Heinen (illness) in the lineup on Tuesday. Wagner has just 12 goals and six assists (18 points) in 75 games this season.
Blackwood allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Devils loss in Washington last Friday. Blackwood has gone 0-3-0 since being recalled from the AHL despite posting a rock-solid 1.71 GAA and .950 SV%. Tonight he faces the Flames for the second time this season—he allowed two goals on 35 shots in a 2-1 loss in New Jersey on February 27th.
Landeskog will likely miss the rest of the regular season after suffering an upper-body injury in Dallas on Thursday. This is a huge blow for the Avalanche, who are just four points out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference right now. With Landeskog out, the Avalanche split Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen up at Friday’s practice. Derick Brassard and J.T. Compher were with MacKinnon and Colin Wilson and Carl Soderberg were skating alongside Rantanen.
Blackwood allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Devils 1-0 loss to the Bruins last Saturday. Since Keith Kinkaid was traded and Blackwood was recalled, the 22-year-old has gone 0-2-0 despite stopping 62 of the 65 shots (.954 SV%) that he faced. He has been solid this season but draws a tough assignment tonight—the Capitals have won five straight while averaging 4.60 goals for per game.
Cogliano is expected to miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury, but he practiced on Monday and is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday. The 31-year-old has just three points (1G / 2A) in 17 games since being acquired by the Stars.
