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Colorado Avalanche News
Girard (undisclosed) will return to Colorado's lineup on Thursday vs. Chicago.

Girard has not played the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Girard is averaging 21:10 time-on-ice and has 18 points (2G / 16A) in 42 games this season. Sam Malinski will exit the lineup to accommodate Girard's return.

Samuel Girard
Blackwood will start vs. Edmonton on Thursday.

Colorado is coming off an exciting 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers and will return to Blackwood between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado last month, posting an immaculate 1.68 GAA and .938 SV% in 12 games (9-2-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favorites against an Oilers squad that played last night and defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Nichushkin (lower-body) skated on Wednesday but is still at least a week away from returning.

Nichushkin has not played since December 31st and has missed seven straight games. Originally given a day-to-day timeline, Nichushkin, and the Avalanche have been patient with his recovery and have not rushed his return to the lineup. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Valeri Nichushkin
Polin is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday vs. New York.

Polin is an undrafted product of Western Michigan University. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in seven games. He has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games with the Colorado Eagles.

Jason Polin
Blackwood will start vs. New York on Tuesday.

Colorado will turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Blackwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) despite a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent since joining Colorado last month, posting a superb 1.66 GAA and .939 SV% in 11 games (8-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -157 home favorites against a New York team with points in four straight (3-0-1).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Blackwood is expected to start vs. New York on Tuesday.

Colorado will likely turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Blackwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) despite a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent since joining Colorado last month, posting a superb 1.66 GAA and .939 SV% in 11 games (8-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -157 home favorites against a New York team with points in four straight (3-0-1).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Polin has been recalled from the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Polin is an undrafted product of Western Michigan University. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in seven games. He has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games with the Colorado Eagles.

Jason Polin
Blackwood led the Avalanche onto the ice for warmups.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, Blackwood is expected return to the crease on Thursday in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood has an impressive 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 28 games this season (13-10-4). Even more remarkable, the 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado, boasting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .938 SV% in nine appearances (7-1-1).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Blackwood is expected to start in Minnesota on Thursday.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, Blackwood is expected return to the crease on Thursday in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood has an impressive 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 28 games this season (13-10-4). Even more remarkable, the 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado, boasting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .938 SV% in nine appearances (7-1-1).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Miner will make his first NHL start on Wednesday in Chicago.

Miner was recalled last week after Scott Wedgewood (lower body) was injured and will make his first career start on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Miner was a seventh-round pick of Colorado in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old netminder was excellent in the AHL last season, posting a 2.10 GAA and .930 SV% in 18 games (9-6-1), but has fallen off slightly in the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.47 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 outings (8-5-3). Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as sizeable -230 road favorites against a Chicago team outscored 25-11 in their last five games (1-4-0).

Trent Miner
Nichushkin is progressing from his lower-body injury but will not attend Colorado's upcoming three-game road trip.

Originally slated to return on Colorado's upcoming three-game road trip, Nichushkin has been ruled out for those games by head coach Jared Bednar. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Valeri Nichushkin
Nichushkin (lower-body) is expected to make his return to the Avalanche lineup during their upcoming road trip.

The Avalanche travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively, meaning Nichushkin should return by the weekend at the latest. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Valeri Nichushkin
Blackwood will start vs. Florida on Monday.

Colorado will roll with Blackwood between the pipes on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Blackwood was excellent in his previous outing, a losing effort, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in 27 games this season (12-10-4). The Avalanche enter Monday's contest as -117 home favorites against a Panthers club that has only scored eight goals in their previous five games (2-3-0).

Mackenzie Blackwood