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.

MacDonald was acquired from the Avalanche on Wednesday and will make his debut Friday in Carolina. It's unclear who MacDonald will replace in the lineup because the Sharks reportedly have a couple of players under the weather.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

MacDonald was dealt alongside Martin Kaut in a deal with the San Jose Sharks that saw Ryan Merkley and Matthew Nieto go the other way.

Merkley was dealt alongside Matthew Nieto in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche that saw Jacob MacDonald and Martin Kaut go the other way.

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.

Makar will be a game-time decision again Tuesday vs. the Capitals. Head coach Jared Bednar said that Makar will take part in the morning skate and warmups as he did on Saturday.

Makar missed the Avalanche's previous contest and 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.

Blackwood allowed two goals on 37 shots (.946 SV%) as he snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Los Angeles in his previous start. The 26-year-old has continued to struggle for a second-straight season, with his 6-3-1 record, 2.95 GAA and .895 SV%. He will face the Seattle Kraken, who are on a two-game losing streak after a 5-2 loss to Edmonton, which came after an eight-game winning streak.

Blackwood allowed two goals on 37 shots (.946 SV%) as he snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Los Angeles in his previous start. The 26-year-old has continued to struggle for a second-straight season, with his 6-3-1 record, 2.95 GAA and .895 SV%. He will face the Seattle Kraken, who are on a two-game losing streak after a 5-2 loss to Edmonton which came after an eight-game winning streak.

Dufour made at costly mistake in the second period of his NHL debut which led to him sitting the rest of the game after just eight shifts, 6:48 TOI and a -2 plus/minus. The 20-year-old heads back to Bridgeport (AHL) where he has 13 goals, 12 assists, 19 PIMs and is a -11 plus/minus through 37 games.