Avalanche Game 44 vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Coyle Returns to Colorado, Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (32-4-7) continue their seven-game homestand on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-18-7). Puck drop is scheduled for 2:08 p.m. MT.

READ MORE: 10 Takeaways: Josh Manson Had a Career Night; Nelson Keeps Impressing (+)

Key Stories to Watch

• The Avalanche and Blue Jackets played once earlier this year, a 4-1 Avs victory at Nationwide Arena. Scott Wedgewood got the nod in goal then, and he’s likely to get another start with Mackenzie Blackwood still out. Although it has not yet been confirmed, given the lack of a morning skate for the early matinee matchup.
• The Blue Jackets are rolling with Elvis Merzlikins, who makes his first start since Dec. 20. Columbus recently acquired one of the Avs’ villains, Mason Marchment, albeit he is currently on injured reserve.
• Miles Wood is also on IR and will not be in the lineup for his team’s first return to Colorado since he was traded. Also in that trade was Charlie Coyle, and he’ll be the third-line center for Columbus. Coyle has 25 points in 43 games with the Jackets.
• The Jackets have fallen to last in the Eastern Conference after losing two in a row in regulation.
• The Avs are likely to go with the same lineup as the one they had against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The only expected change is T.J. Tynan replacing Ivan Ivan. Colorado won that game 8-2, extending its home winning stream to 16 games (18-0-2).

Season Series

• Oct. 16 at Columbus Blue Jackets (W, 4-1)
• Jan. 9 vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Avalanche Injuries

• Logan O’Connor (undisclosed, TBD)
• Joel Kiviranta (lower body, week-to-week)
• Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body, week-to-week)
• Devon Toews (upper body, week-to-week)
• Gabriel Landeskog (upper body, “weeks”)

READ MORE: An Avalanche of Injury Updates: Will Landeskog Play in Olympics?

Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Victor Olofsson
Zakhar Bardakov — T.J. Tynan — Gavin Brindley

Sam Malinski — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Ilya Solovyov — Samuel Girard

Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner

READ MORE: Postgame Wrap: Where Do We Begin? Avs Crush Senators at Ball Arena

Projected Starters (Subject to Change)

• Unconfirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
• Confirmed: Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ)

Upcoming Milestones

• Samuel Girard — needs 3 assists for 200
• Gabriel Landeskog — needs 7 points for 600
• Devon Toews — needs 9 points for 300
• Valeri Nichushkin — needs 11 games for 600, 13 assists for 700
• Nathan MacKinnon — needs 11 points for 1,100

How to Watch

• TV: Altitude TV
• Radio: 92.5 FM