Martin Necas, Jonathan Drouin Out For Avalanche vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Two pieces of the Avalanche’s top six are out for Thursday evening’s matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Jonathan Drouin and Martin Necas each suffered an injury in Chicago on Wednesday. Drouin was hit against the boards and seemed to hurt his knee area. He was in pain as he hobbled back to the bench. Drouin ended up finishing the first period before being ruled out for the rest of the game for a lower-body injury.

Necas, who scored with 10 seconds remaining in regulation, was involved in a collision in Colorado’s crease that seemed to hurt his head or neck area. He stayed down on the ice for several moments before being helped to the bench. Necas did not leave the game and played a lot down the stretch before getting the game-tying goal.

It’s unclear at this time if Necas is sitting for precautionary reasons.

Miles Wood and Jimmy Vesey both enter the lineup to replace the two forwards.

Mackenzie Blackwood did not dress on Wednesday but gets the nod in Columbus. Samuel Girard is also still out after missing Wednesday’s game, too.

Catch the full game preview here.

Blackwood starts. Necas and Drouin are out. Wood and Vesey in.#COLvsCBJ #GoAvsGo

— Conor McGahey (@ConorMcGahey) April 3, 2025