Makar will miss at least seven days with the upper-body injury and this will likely force Samuel Girard and Bowen Byram to take on bigger roles for at least the next few games. The Avalanche will be in tough on Wednesday, missing Makar, Mikko Rantanen, Devon Toews, Valeri Nichushkin and maybe Andre Burakovsky as well.
Girard has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will replace Kurtis MacDermid in the lineup on Saturday. Girard has picked up two shots with four shots on goal in five games this season.
Blackwood was on the ice on Friday and told reporters that he isn't ready to play Saturday but thinks he'll be ready within the week. Blackwood should immediately take over as the Devils' No.1 netminder.
Girard will not play Tuesday vs. the Golden Knights, so look for Kurtis MacDermid to draw into the lineup and Bowen Byram to take over on PP2. Consider Girard questionable for Thursday's game in St. Louis.
Samuel Girard is banged up, so MacDonald being recalled is an indication that Girard will not be available on Tuesday. MacDonald has had a hot start in the AHL, scoring one goal with three assists (four points) in four games.
Barre-Boulet was lost briefly on waivers but was re-claimed from the Kraken late last week. Barre-Boulet will replace Pat Maroon in the Lightning's bottom-6 on Monday.
Barre-Boulet was lost to the Kraken on waivers but returns to the Lightning after playing two games with Seattle. Being re-claimed by the Lightning will allow them to send him to the AHL.
Landeskog completed his two-game suspension and will return to the lineup tonight in Florida. Landeskog will likely return to the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen--he had one goal and one assist in the Avalanche season opener.
MacKinnon missed the first two games of the season but received two negative COVID-19 tests and flew to Washington to join his team for Tuesday's game. MacKinnon will provide a huge boost to an Avalanche team that will be without Gabriel Landeskog (suspended) and Valeri Nichushkin.
Barre-Boulet played just 8:12 TOI on Saturday and has one assist in two games while averaging 8:39 TOI/gm. Barre-Boulet will be replaced by Kole Lind.
The Avalanche are about to embark on a three-game road trip and MacKinnon will miss at least one more game after testing positive yet again.
Blackwood continues to rehab his heel injury and is not expected to be available for Friday's game vs. the Blackhawks. With Blackhwood still out, Jonathan Bernier is expected to start with Scott Wedgewood serving as the backup.
Landeskog planted Kirby Dach into the centre ice boards in Wednesday's win over the Blackhawks and will miss Saturday's game vs. St. Louis and Tuesday's game in Washington. He is eligible to play next Thursday in Florida.
Barre-Boulet was claimed off of waivers from the Lightning on Monday but did not play in their season opener on Tuesday. With Marcus Johansson landing on IR on Wednesday, Barre-Boulet will draw into the lineup tonight vs. the Predators.
MacKinnon tested positive but is asymptomatic, so he will miss Wednesday's season opener. The Avalanche are hopeful that MacKinnon will test out of COVID-19 protocol and will be available for Saturday's game vs. the Blues.
