Avalanche Game 31 vs Florida Panthers: 30th Anniversary Celebrations, Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (21-2-7) are back at home against the Florida Panthers (15-12-2). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. MT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

READ MORE: 10 Observations: One Point, Bizarre Ending, and a Precisely 5-Minute-Long OT

Key Stories to Watch

• The Avalanche will honor the 1996 Stanley Cup championship team ahead of the matchup against the Panthers, the team Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy, and the rest of the Avs swept to win the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season upon relocating from Quebec City.
• Mackenzie Blackwood is back in goal with Scott Wedgewood serving as backup. Wedgewood was removed from the shootout by the concussion spotter after getting run over by Filip Forsberg. Blackwood was forced to enter the game but did not face a shot as the Avs lost after Gabe Landeskog missed on Colorado’s third shot.
• Gavin Brindley will return to the lineup tonight. Zakhar Bardakov will be a healthy scratch.
• The Panthers played in Utah on Wednesday, defeating the Mammoth 4-3 in the first of a west coast back-to-back. Florida enters the game riding a three-game winning streak.

Season Series

• Dec. 11 vs Florida Panthers
• Jan. 4 at Florida Panthers

Avalanche Injuries

• Logan O’Connor (hip, week-to-week)

Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Ross Colton
Valeri Nichushkin — Jack Drury — Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta — Parker Kelly — Gavin Brindley

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Samuel Girard — Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Projected Starters (Subject to Change)

• Confirmed: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
• Unconfirmed: Daniil Tarasov (FLA)

Upcoming Milestones

• Brock Nelson — needs 5 assists for 300
• Nathan MacKinnon — needs 9 goals for 400

How to Watch

• TV: ESPN
• Radio: 92.5 FM