Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche lines and D pairs for Game 1 vs. St. Louis

Finally back home, after going to practice earlier today (had some errands to run, and ran into a bit of a DaterJinx with some delays in getting them done). First, let’s get right to the Colorado Avalanche lines and D pairs that, barring anything unforeseen overnight or tomorrow morning, will be in place for Game 1 of a quarterfinal playoff series against the St. Louis Blues Monday night at Ball Arena:
Gabe Landeskog-Nathan MacKinnon-Mikko Rantanen
Andre Burakovsky-Nazem Kadri-Joonas Donskoi
Brandon Saad-Tyson Jost-Valeri Nichushkin
Alex Newhook-P.E. Bellemare-J.T. Compher
D
Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Ryan Graves-Sam Girard
Patrik Nemeth-Conor Timmins
Grubauer
THOUGHTS: So, the kid, Newhook, is in. Carl Soderberg and Jayson Megna were the extra forwards at practice. I think playing Newhook is the right call. I want as much speed and talent in my lineup against this Blues team as possible. It’s nice having Soderberg in your back pocket as a potential fill-in for anyone, and maybe we’ll see him play in St. Louis, where the Blues will have the last change and where Jared Bednar might want a bit more of a defensive-oriented lineup out there. But I think Newhook should be in there. He’s got top-6 talent, and I don’t care that he’s on a fourth line. That is a fourth line that can actually score goals. … Nathan MacKinnon, who did a Zoom call and said he feels real good, said Newhook can be an “X-Factor” in the series with his speed and shot. … Said Landeskog of the Blues: “We know them well and they know us well. It should be a fun series.” … Timmins skated with Nemeth for the full practice and didn’t seem bothered from that puck to the right ankle the other night. … First power play unit is Makar, Landeskog, Donskoi, Rantanen, MacKinnon. Second unit: Toews, Girard, Kadri, Saad, Burakovsky. … Bednar wasn’t happy with his team’s intensity at one point in practice, stopping things and barking out: “We got guys wandering around out here. … This is the (bleepin’) playoffs. This isn’t gonna be a (bleepin’) cakewalk.” … Bednar took a day off from the media. … Blues leading scorer David Perron (Covid-19 protocol) will not be available for Game 1, coach Craig Berube said. … MacKinnon said of Rantanen, when asked about him: “He’s such a beast.” … Bo Byram participated in the full practice, in a regular jersey.
AD, at what point do you think we see Byram replace Nemeth? A top 6 D of Makar, Toews, G, Gravy, Byram and Timmins is awfully sexy.
Could be any day or it could be next year. Unclear.
Is Calvert officially done for season? So unfortunate for him to have to deal with injury after injury these last couple years. I love what he brings to the team and even more so after watching the other playoff games so far