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Colorado Avalanche News
Mackenzie Blackwood will start Thursday vs. Seattle.

Blackwood allowed five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) for his fourth loss in five games as he was defeated by Nashville in his previous start. The Devils' backup net minder has been shaken when called up this season, with his 6-4-2 record, 3.21 GAA and .894 SV%. He takes on the Seattle Kraken, who are coming off a 4-0 shutout loss to the New York Islanders but are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (3.54).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Makar (head) will miss at least the next two games.

Makar took a blindside hit to the head from Penguins' forward Jeff Carter late in the game Tuesday which will now cause the 2022 Norris Trophy winner to miss the Avalanche's next two games. Colorado will hope their star defensemen is only forced to miss a minimum amount of time as he has 13 goals and 45 points in 45 games this season.

Cale Makar
Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice at the Devils' morning skate.

Blackwood allowed five goals on 40 shots (.875 SV%) for his fourth loss in five games as he was defeated by Nashville in his previous start. The Devils' backup net minder has been shaken when called up this season, with his 6-4-2 record, 3.21 GAA and .894 SV%. He takes on the Seattle Kraken, who are coming off a 4-0 shutout loss to the New York Islanders but are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (3.54).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Francouz will start Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Francouz allowed four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%) to snap a four-game winning streak as he was defeated by Anaheim in his previous start. The Avalanche's backup netminder has been solid when called upon yet again this season, with his 7-7-0 record, 2.58 GAA and .917 SV%. He will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have lost three of their last four games after a 6-4 loss to San Jose in their last game.

Pavel Francouz
Nichushkin (upper-body) is expected to be back in the Avalanche lineup on Tuesday.

Nichuskin missed the Avalanche's previous two games with an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday as they take on Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old has played great throughout his injury-riddled campaign in 2022-23, with eight goals, 10 assists, 63 SOG and a +6 plus/minus through 20 games prior to his latest knock.

Valeri Nichushkin
Valeri Nichuskin is questionable for Saturday's game vs. St. Louis (upper body).

Nichuskin missed the Avalanche's previous game and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury and is questionable to play vs. St. Louis Saturday. The 27-year-old has played well when healthy, with his 8 goals, 10 assists, 63 SOG, and +6 plus/minus through 20 games prior to his most recent injury.

Valeri Nichushkin
Francouz will start Thursday vs. the Ducks.

Francouz stopped 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) for his fifth win in six games as he beat Seattle in his previous start. The 32-year-old Avalanche backup has been incredibly solid yet again this season, with his 7-6-0 record, 2.47 GAA and .920 SV%. He will take on the Anaheim Ducks, who beat Arizona 5-2 in their last game but are 31st in goals per game (2.4).

Pavel Francouz
Nichushkin (upper-body) will not play Thursday vs. the Ducks.

Nichuskin will miss time for the third time this season as he is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will not play Thursday vs. Anaheim. The 27-year-old has played well when healthy, with his 8 goals, 10 assists, 63 SOG, and +6 plus/minus through 20 games prior to his most recent injury.

Valeri Nichushkin
Cale Makar will return to the Avalanche's lineup Thursday vs. Anaheim (undisclosed).

Makar has missed the Avalanche's previous four games with an undisclosed injury but will return Thursday vs. Anaheim. The 2022 Norris Trophy winner is in the midst of a six-game point streak (4G/5A) and currently ranks fifth among all defensemen with 13 goals and 43 points in 42 games prior to his injury.

Cale Makar
Francouz is in the starter's crease at the Avalanche morning skate.

Francouz stopped 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) for his fifth win in six games as he beat Seattle in his previous start. The 32-year-old Avalanche backup has been incredibly solid yet again this season, with his 7-6-0 record, 2.47 GAA and .920 SV%. He will take on the Anaheim Ducks, who beat Arizona 5-2 in their last game but are 31st in goals per game (2.4).

Pavel Francouz
Kevin Mandolese has been recalled from Belleville (AHL).

Mandolese has been recalled to his third level this season after seeing time early with the Allen Americans (ECHL) and then moving up to the Belleville Senators (AHL) before receiving his promotion to the Senators Thursday. The 22-year-old netminder struggled in Belleville, with his 4-6-2 record, .886 SV% and 3.39 GAA but got the call-up due to Cam Talbot leaving Wednesday's game with a lower-body injury.

Kevin Mandolese
Cale Makar will miss his third straight game as he is out vs. Washington (undisclosed).

Makar missed the Avalanche's previous two contests but is fifth among all defensemen in points (43) and second in goals (13) but will miss Friday's game vs. Vancouver as well due to an undisclosed injury. The 2022 Norris Trophy winner is considered day-to-day as we wait for more of an update on his ailment.

Cale Makar