Avs recall Jacob MacDonald, Justus Annunen for season finale

We’re finally to the end of the NHL regular season tonight. Avalanche at Minnesota Wild – a potential second-round playoff preview. We still don’t know the full lineup for tonight for the Avs, but we know Jacob MacDonald will be in the lineup and Justus Annunen will be the backup goalie to Pavel Francouz.

The Avs recalled both players last night from the Eagles, who start their own playoff series next week.

It’ll be nice to see Jacob MacDonald back in the lineup. I talked to him at length earlier this month in California, about his recovery from concussion earlier in the year.

Darcy Kuemper will not make the trip to Minnesota. He no doubt could use a couple days of rest.

I would expect Kurtis MacDermid to play tonight. Avs need to be on their toes for this one, as you know the Wild would love to get in a couple cheap shots against some good Avs players, no doubt. After that last game in Minnesota, when Nathan MacKinnon nearly injured himself in a fight, the Avs need to be ready for anything.

The Wild need to get a point to ensure home-ice advantage in their first-round series, which will be against St. Louis. So, they have something to play for. The Avs don’t. The Presidents’ Trophy is gone, after Florida’s win last night. Remember, the last eight Presidents’ Trophy winners have one thing in common: they’ve failed to win the Stanley Cup.

More lineup news here once I get it…

*Cale Makar is expected to get a night off, with MacDonald coming into the lineup.