The veteran defenceman played in the Sharks most recent game on Saturday, his first game since November 14th, but will return to being a healthy scratch on Monday when they take on the Washington Capitals. Nikita Okhotyuk will draw back into the Sharks lineup on their third defensive pair.

Georgiev has started 17 games this season, most in the league, and is likely to start for the 18th time on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a horrendous stretch in late October where he posted a .832 SV% in five games (1-4-0), Georgiev has rebounded nicely, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six games (5-1-0), posting a .903 SV%. The Avalanche rank third-best in the league in terms of shot suppression (27.7 SA / GP), so Georgiev's unspectacular save percentage is likely par for the course going forward. That said, Georgiev should continue to pile up victories, starting Monday as the Avalanche are -141 home favourites against the Lightning.

Poturalski has seven points (2G / 5A) in 11 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL this season and could be an option to replace Brandon Tanev (lower-body). The 29-year-old Poturalski has played four NHL games, registering two points (0G / 2A) and a -4 plus/minus.

Rutta logged just 4:17 TOI in the Sharks' previous game Wednesday after leaving due to an undisclosed injury and is considered week-to-week along with being placed on the injured reserve Friday. The 33-year-old stay-at-home defender was acquired in a three-team trade in the offseason and has yet to score with one assist, 15 SOG, eight PIMs and a -11 plus/minus in 19 games prior to his injury.

Georgiev will start the front end of a back-to-back for the Avalanche on Friday when they visit the Minnesota Wild. Georgiev has been wildly inconsistent of late but has managed to post an 11-5-0 record despite a 3.01 GAA and .898 SV%. His inconsistencies have been especially present through November, allowing 28 goals in eight games and posting a .865 SV% while salvaging a 5-3-0 record. The Avalanche are -124 road favourites against a Wild team that has lost five straight contests (0-3-2).

Rutta logged just 4:17 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game. If he's unavailable for Friday's game vs. Montreal, expect Marc-Edouard Vlasic to play for the first time since November 14th.

Poturalski did not appear in a game for the Kraken and has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) Thursday. The 29-year-old returns to the Firebirds where he had two goals, seven points, and a +2 plus/minus in 10 games prior to his original promotion.

Georgiev entered the final minute of play with a 3-2 lead over the Nashville Predators on Monday but allowed two goals in 16 seconds en route to a 4-3 regulation loss. Georgiev's 3.08 GAA and .888 SV% through 15 games (10-5-0) leaves a lot to be desired, but the Bulgarian goaltender has consistently collected victories when called upon this season. The Avalanche are -163 home favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team that leads the league offensively, averaging 4.11 goals scored per game.

Dellandrea has been a healthy scratch for the Stars' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup for Craig Smith on Wednesday vs. Vegas. The 23-year-old has struggled this season with zero goals, one assist, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus while averaging 12:29 TOI.

Knyzhov has been a healthy scratch for the Sharks' last three games but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday vs. Seattle. The 25-year-old undrafted defenseman has yet to score this season but has an assist, six SOG, six PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through nine games played.

Georgiev entered the final minute of play with a 3-2 lead over the Nashville Predators on Monday but allowed two goals in 16 seconds en route to a 4-3 regulation loss. Georgiev's 3.08 GAA and .888 SV% through 15 games (10-5-0) leaves a lot to be desired, but the Bulgarian goaltender has consistently collected victories when called upon this season. The Avalanche are -163 home favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team that leads the league offensively, averaging 4.11 goals scored per game.

Kostin was in the lineup for the last 10 games for the Red Wings, recording two points (1G / 1A), and will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday as the team will likely dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Duehr will enter the Flames' lineup on Monday as Adam Ruzicka will be a healthy scratch. He last played on November 7th and will likely skate on the Flames' fourth line alongside A.J. Greer and Dillon Dube. Duehr has four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games with the Flames this season.

Georgiev will start for the fifth consecutive game and look to extend Colorado's win streak to four games. After an abysmal five-game stretch (1-4-0) where Georgiev allowed 23 goals on 137 shots (.832 SV%), he seems to have rebounded back into form, saving 58 of 64 (.906 SV%) in his last three contests (3-0-0). The Avalanche are -150 road favourites on Monday against a Nashville Predators team that has allowed three or more goals in four of their last five games (1-4-0).

After playing one game and failing to record a point, Lindblom was placed on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury and is considered out week-to-week. The 27-year-old left-winger had six goals, 15 points, and 18 PIMs with the Sharks in 2022-23.

Georgiev will take the crease for the Avalanche for the seventh time in eight games and is in the midst of a two-game winning streak after allowing two goals on 17 shots (.882 SV%) in a victory over Anaheim last game. The 27-year-old has picked up wins this season despite his less-than-ideal counting stats as he is 9-4-0 with a .890 SV% and a 3.01 GAA. He takes on the red-hot Dallas Stars, who have won four straight and are 11th in the NHL in goals per game (3.4).

Georgiev will take the crease for the Avalanche for the seventh time in eight games and is in the midst of a two-game winning streak after allowing two goals on 17 shots (.882 SV%) in a victory over Anaheim last game. The 27-year-old has picked up wins this season despite his less-than-ideal counting stats as he is 9-4-0 with a .890 SV% and a 3.01 GAA. He takes on the red-hot Dallas Stars, who have won four straight and are 11th in the NHL in goals per game (3.4).

Gushchin had an assist, and three SOG while averaging 14:57 TOI in two games with San Jose but has been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Friday. The 21-year-old right winger returns to the AHL, where he was on a tear earlier in the season with four goals, 13 points, six PIMs and a +3 plus/minus.

Vlasic has yet to pick up a point through 13 games this season while averaging just 13:54 TOI and will be the odd man out of San Jose's lineup as he is replaced by Kyle Burroughs. The 36-year-old veteran is in his 18th NHL season and has struggled to create any type of offence as he has a -8 plus/minus and only 10 SOG.