Avalanche Lineup For Predators Tonight; Galchenyuk Back With Eagles

Back from the Avalanche morning skate, as the Avalanche play again in Ball Arena after about a three-week absence. The Nashville Predators are on the menu, and Alexandar Georgiev will start in goal for Colorado, while Shane Bowers will play his first career NHL game after being called up from the Eagles.

Jared Bednar said Bowers “did everything we asked of him” when he was cut in training camp, with parting words on what it would take to get a callup.

Based on what was seen at the skate, this is your projected Colorado Avalanche lineup for tonight:

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen

Newhook-Rodrigues-Kaut

Cogliano-Compher-O’Connor

Hunt-Bowers-Ranta

D

Toews-Makar

MacDonald-Manson

MacDermid-Johnson

Georgiev

So, Bowers will be at center, on the fourth line. He had been the only player from the first round class of the 2017 NHL draft to not have played a game in the league, but that changes tonight.

“I’m pretty excited. It’s something you dream of, like every kid. I’m happy to be here,” Bowers said. “My parents have been here watching me play, when I was with the Eagles, so it’s just good timing that they happen to be here. They’ll be here tonight. I feel more confident, feel like I’m more consistent. I feel ready.”

Sampo Ranta will, as you already know, will play tonight as well after being called up from the Eagles. Bednar said he’s picked up his game of late and will get a look from the big club.

NOTEBOOK: The Colorado Eagles have signed veteran Alex Galchenyuk to a PTO. He was in training camp with the Avalanche, but an injury made the Avalanche release him. However, he’s healthy again, and the Avalanche essentially are giving him a look-see, starting with the Eagles. Selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Galchenyuk has posted 146 goals and 208 assists in 643 career NHL contests with the Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins. … The Predators look like they’ll start Kevin Lankinen in goal against Colorado. … I’m not sure exactly what the Avalanche have planned in the building tonight, but obviously Peter McNab’s memory will be honored by the team. Altitude will air a special one-hour show, from 6-7 p.m. in memory of Peter. That show will be available, in its entirety, on the Avalanche YouTube channel and main website.

CHN’s Brennan Vogt contributed to this report