With Yaroslav Askarov sent down to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), the Sharks crease return to Blackwood. The 27-year-old Blackwood is having a fine season between the pipes for a defensively-prone Sharks club, posting a 3.07 GAA and .907 SV% in 14 games (4-7-3). That said, the Sharks enter Wednesday's contest as +181 home underdogs against an Ottawa Senators squad that snapped a five-game losing skid in their previous game, a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.

Tynan has played eight games this season, limited to 7:56 time-on-ice, scoring one point (0G / 1A). In a corresponding move, the Avalanche recalled Chase Bradley from the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Bradley is a 22-year-old product from the University of Connecticut. He was the 203rd overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has yet to play an NHL game and has four points (3G / 1A) in 17 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.

Drouin already missed 16 consecutive games this season due to injury and just made his return to the lineup on November 15th. He was starting to come to form, with four points (2G / 2A) in his last three games, but will unfortunately return to a familiar place on the sidelines.

Tynan will fill in for Jonathan Drouin, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Tynan is yet to score a goal and has just one assist in seven games this season.

Drouin was a surprise scratch on Monday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. T.J. Tynan will draw into the lineup in his place.

Tynan played seven games with the Avalanche, averaging 7:47 time-on-ice and scoring one point (0G / 1A). The 32-year-old Tynan has spent most of his career in the AHL and has four points (0G / 4A) in six games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.

Despite the Sharks recalling high-pedigree prospect Yaroslav Askarov from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) on Monday, the Sharks will turn to Blackwood between the pipes for a second straight game. The 27-year-old Blackwood has been stellar between the pipes lately, posting a .929 SV% in his previous six outings (3-2-1). The Sharks enter the action on Wednesday as significant +393 road underdogs against the Stars but nearly defeated them in their meeting on October 15th when Blackwood saved 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout loss.

With Vitek Vanecek sidelined due to injury, the Sharks recalled Yaroslav Askarov, but he will serve as the backup to Blackwood on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Blackwood has been solid between the pipes for the Sharks this season, posting a 2.98 GAA and .914 SV% through 11 games (3-5-3). The Sharks enter the action as +125 home underdogs against a Red Wings club outscored 10-5 in their previous two contests (0-2-0).

With Vitek Vanecek sidelined due to injury, the Sharks recalled Yaroslav Askarov, but he will likely serve as the backup to Blackwood on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Blackwood has been solid between the pipes for the Sharks this season, posting a 2.98 GAA and .914 SV% through 11 games (3-5-3). The Sharks enter the action as +129 home underdogs against a Red Wings club outscored 10-5 in their previous two contests (0-2-0).

Wagner played 12 games with the Avalanche this season, scoring one point (1G / 0A), but will report to the Eagles (AHL) after clearing waivers. The 33-year-old Wagner has 66 points (39G / 27A) in 385 career NHL games.

With Alexandar Georgiev sidelined, day-to-day, due to an upper-body injury, the Avalanche have recalled Miner from the Colorago Eagles (AHL) to back up Justus Annunen. The 23-year-old Miner has never played an NHL game and has a 2.34 GAA and .905 SV% in six games with the Eagles this season (3-2-1).

Wood has not played since October 28th but, after being activated from Injured Reserve, will return to the lineup on Friday against the Washington Capitals. In 10 games this season, Wood has one goal, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 13:40 time-on-ice. Wood joins Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) as players making long-awaited returns to the lineup.

Nichushkin was suspended for six months in May and will make his season debut on Friday, his first day of eligibility. Off-ice issues aside, Nichushkin has been dynamite in his last three seasons with the Avalanche, scoring 152 points (70G / 82A) in 169 games, and he will provide an offensive boost to an injury-depleted team upon his return to the lineup. Nichushkin is expected to play on a line with Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt.