Necas has been out since January 2nd due to an upper-body injury but will return to the Hurricanes' lineup Friday vs. Detroit. The 25-year-old broke out with a 71 point campaign in 2022-23 but has failed to take another step forward this season with just nine goals and 26 points in 38 games prior to the injury.

Johnson left Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper-body injury after playing only 11:18 time-on-ice. The veteran Johnson has been held off the scoresheet in seven straight games.

Necas has been sidelined for the last five games due to an upper-body injury, but was a full participant at practice on Wednesday, skating alongside Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen. Before his injury, Necas was amid a dry spell, scoring only three points (0G / 3A) in his last eight games.

Wood will make his first appearance since January 4th after missing Colorado's last five games as he battled the flu. Wood was very effective in a top-six role in his last outing, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and firing three shots on goal in 15:31 time-on-ice.

Blackwood helped the Sharks snap a 12-game losing skid last week when he saved 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens but followed that up by allowing five goals on 41 shots (.878 SV%) in a 5-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks, on a fresh two-game losing streak, are +131 road underdogs against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has lost three straight, being outscored 7-3.

Foudy hasn't appeared in 2023-24 due to a lower-body injury but was finally activated off the Injured Non-Roster list Thursday and has been assigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL). The 21-year-old is Colorado's 2020 3rd round pick (75th overall) and appeared in nine games as a rookie for the Avalanche in 2022-23, but failed to pick up a point.

Wagner has yet to appear in 2023-24 for either of Colorado's organizations due to a ruptured Achilles in the offseason but has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) after being activated off the injured Non-Roster list Thursday. The 32-year-old has appeared in one NHL game in each of the last two seasons but will need to spend some time in the minors to get his footing back.

There is no timeline for a Landeskog return, and he was skating alone, but it was still encouraging to see him at the Avalanche practice facility on Thursday. Landeskog missed the entire 2022-23 regular season as he recovered from knee surgery and followed that up with a cartilage transplant in his right knee during the offseason. The 30-year-old has 571 points (248G/323A) and a +77 plus/minus across 738 career NHL games.

Blackwood was serviceable entering the Sharks' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in relief on Tuesday, saving 22 of 25 shots (.880 SV%), but with the outcome already predetermined, there was very little he could do to help his squad avoid a defeating 7-1 fate. The Sharks have lost 12 straight (0-12-0), largely due to the Sharks' inability to score as they have been outscored 31-8 in their last seven games. That said, Blackwood hasn't been horrible lately, posting a .898 SV% in his last three games (0-2-0).

The 32-year-old Wagner has not played a single game this season and will report to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL if he clears waivers. Last season with the Providence Bruins (AHL), Wagner scored 31 points (19G / 12A) in 62 games.

Sam Malinski drew into the lineup on Monday for Manson, who will be unavailable again for the Avalanche on Wednesday. Manson has been an effective contributor over the last couple of weeks with five points (3G / 2A), 18 shots on goal, and 24 hits in his last seven games.

Wood did not play on Saturday, was a game-time decision on Monday, and has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights as he battles the flu. Wood was very effective in a top-six role in his last outing, scoring one point (0G / 1A) and firing three shots on goal in 15:31 time-on-ice.