Cale Makar back on ice in regular sweater (Byram, Compher too)

It’s a good-news Tuesday morning, Avalanche fans. Cale Makar is baa-aaaack, in a regular sweater at least. So, too, this morning were Bo Byram and J.T. Compher. See for yourself:

🎶 Back in black! 🎶 #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/rcJVFN23Y4

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 16, 2021

Another wonderful sight!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/DKPsnGefQc

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 16, 2021

While Makar won’t play tonight against Anaheim at Ball Arena (I know, I know, there’s always another game, another couple days before anyone ever truly comes back with the Avs), he’s on his way back it seems, at least.

“I don’t have a firm timeline on him,” coach Jared Bednar said of Makar. “He’s progressing, getting closer.”

Neither Byram or Compher will play tonight, either, but Bednar said they are likely to play Thursday against Minnesota.

Hunter Miska will start in goal for the Avs tonight. This is a huge game for him. It might be his last chance to show he’s worthy of the backup job to Philipp Grubauer. He lost his last start, to Anaheim, so here’s a chance at redemption. His saves percentage on the season is a cringe-worthy .865, with a 3.50 goals-against average.

Bednar said, “I just want him to relax out there.”

That might be easier said than done. There’s a lot of pressure on him tonight. The Avs are playing a Ducks team that is circling the drain. They’ve lost three in a row and are 2-5-3 in the last 10. No word yet on who will start in goal for the Ducks, but it’ll probably be John Gibson.

Here are the lines and D pairs for the Avs tonight:

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen

Saad-Kadri-Burakovsky

Nichushkin-Jost-Donskoi

Calvert-Bellemare-O’Connor

D

Toews-Graves

Girard-MacDonald

Renouf-Pateryn

Miska

The Avs are strong -280 favorites to win outright tonight, at SuperBook Colorado. The value is better on the puck line (win by two goals or more) at -115. First-time bettors get a free matching bet up to $500. Take advantage of that great deal here.