Avalanche vs. Blue Jackets Preview: Annunen Again, Good Injury News

It appears the Colorado Avalanche avoided any major injuries on Saturday, and will have as close to a full lineup as possible on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sean Walker, who left the game with an upper-body issue against the Predators prior to the third period, is good to go and will play. Also available is Ross Colton, who took a high hit from Ryan McDonagh in the second period. When the Avalanche recalled Chris Wagner on Sunday, there was some concern that Colton might have started to suffer some concussion-like symptoms, but he will play against the Blue Jackets. The only player missing is Valeri Nichushkin, who is scheduled to skate back in Denver.

The Avalanche will go back to Justus Annunen tonight against the Blue Jackets. Annunen replaced Alexandar Georgiev on Saturday and made 22 saves in relief for the win. However, Jared Bednar said this is a scheduled start, which does add up. Annunen has been starting every third game, and that’s what tonight would be. Bednar did say that Annunen is scheduled to start another game this week, because the Avalanche play a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday.

The Blue Jackets and Avalanche met just over a week ago, and it really was not close. Colorado dominated the game, winning by a score of 6-1, and outshot Columbus 50-24 in the process. There is a giant difference in the skill level of these two rosters, but hockey is played on the ice and not on paper, so anything can happen.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines 

Jonathan Drouin – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen

Brandon Duhaime – Casey Mittelstadt – Artturi Lehkonen

Miles Wood – Ross Colton – Zach Parise

Jean-Luc Foudy – Yakov Trenin – Andrew Cogliano

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Samuel Girard – Josh Manson

Jack Johnson – Sean Walker

Starting Goaltender

Justus Annunen

Expected Columbus Blue Jackets Lines

Gaudreau – Voronkov – Nylander

Texier – Sillinger – Marchenko

Malatesta – Danforth – Meyer

Pyyhtia – Gaunce – Olivier

Defense

Werenski – Severson

Provorov – Bean

Christiansen – Gubrandson

Starting Goaltender

Daniil Tarasov

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 24.9%, 5th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 82.3%, 6th in NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets Power Play: 14.6%, 31st in NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets Penalty Kill: 76.3%,25th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: ESPN+, Altitude TV

Radio: 92.5 FM

Game Time: 5:00 PM MST