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Avalanche Pregame Notes

Avalanche Game 45 vs New York Rangers, Homestand Begin, Lines, Notes & How to Watch

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The Colorado Avalanche (26-17-1) open a five-game homestand against the middling New York Rangers (20-20-2). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. MT.



READ MORE: Is Casey Mittelstadt’s Cold Streak Becoming a Major Issue?

The Avalanche have four massive games coming after the Rangers, taking on the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Winnipeg Jets. But first, they’ll begin the homestand with one of the more disappointing teams in the league.

Colorado went 1-2-0 on its most recent three-games-in-four-nights road trip. It began with a disappointing loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and ended with yet another shutout defeat at MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

The Avs received a bit of good news on the injury front heading into this game. Goalie Scott Wedgewood, who suffered a scary injury two weeks ago, has already made his way back into the lineup. Wedgewood will back up for Mackenzie Blackwood tonight.

The team will still be without Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Miles Wood, Ivan Ivan, and Oliver Kylington. Ivan was medically cleared on Monday afternoon and reassigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

READ MORE: Ross Colton on Luck of Surprise Goal

The Blueshirts have been in the news for all the wrong reasons this year. They started the season strong but took a massive nosedive in November and haven’t really recovered.

In the process, former Avs center Chris Drury, who is now the GM of the Rangers, has traded away captain Jacob Trouba and 2019 second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko. He’s also upset several of the veterans and is looking to completely shake up the core pieces of his team.

New York is 4-1-1 in January but is still one of the lower-seeded teams in the Eastern Conference.

READ MORE: Jared Bednar Denies Gabriel Landeskog’s Knee Swelling Reports

Season Series

  • Jan. 14 vs New York Rangers
  • Jan. 26 at New York Rangers

Avalanche Injuries

  • Samuel Girard (upper body, day-to-day)
  • Valeri Nichushkin (lower body, day-to-day)
  • Oliver Kylington (upper body, IR)
  • Miles Wood (upper body, LTIR)
  • Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Jonathan Drouin โ€” Nathan MacKinnon โ€” Mikko Rantanen
Ross Colton โ€” Casey Mittelstadt โ€” Artturi Lehkonen
Joel Kiviranta โ€“ Parker Kelly โ€“ Logan Oโ€™Connor
Jason Polin โ€” Juuso Parssinen โ€” Jere Innala

Devon Toews โ€” Cale Makar
Calvin de Haan โ€” Josh Manson
Keaton Middleton โ€” Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Projected Starters (subject to change)

  • Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
  • Confirmed: Igor Shesterkin (NYR)

Upcoming Milestones

  • Jonathan Drouin โ€” needs 1 goal for 100
  • Devon Toews โ€” needs 3 assists for 200
  • Ross Colton โ€” needs 3 games for 300
  • Nathan MacKinnon โ€” needs 4 PPG for 100
  • Logan Oโ€™Connor โ€” needs 6 points for 100

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