Avalanche News

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Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Could Return Saturday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) could rejoin the lineup for Game 3 against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports. He has traveled with the team to Minnesota after sitting out three games due to an upper-body injury. Manson made a big impact early in the playoffs, handing out two assists and delivering 10 hits in three games. Nick Blankenburg has filled in for him on the blue line, producing one goal in three outings. Both players have done a good job for the Avalanche, giving head coach Jared Bednar a pleasant selection headache ahead of Game 3.

Yesterday

Scott Wedgewood • G • Avalanche

Scott Wedgewood Returns to Form in Game 2 Against Wild

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 of 31 pucks in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. While Wedgewood finished with one fewer save than in Game 1 of the series, his performance was much better. His save percentage went from .833 to .935. The 33-year-old looked unbeatable at times during the regular season and has also been brilliant for the Avalanche in the playoffs. Wedgewood has won all six starts, allowing 2.12 goals with a .923 save percentage. Cam Ward and Tiny Thompson are the only netminders in NHL history to win each of their first seven career postseason starts. Wedgewood can join them in Game 3 against Minnesota.

4 days ago

Gabriel Landeskog • LW • Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog Picks Up Two Power-Play Points Tuesday

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog made the difference with the man advantage in Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, recording two power-play points in a 5-2 win. The Avalanche captain netted his team's second goal and assisted Nathan MacKinnon on the fourth. After being limited to 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 60 regular-season outings, Landeskog has elevated his performance in the playoffs. He is riding a five-game point streak and has seven points (three goals, four assists) in six games overall. The Wild have a horrible 59.8 percent penalty kill in the playoffs, setting Landeskog up for further success in the second-round matchup.

4 days ago

Martin Necas • C • Avalanche

Martin Necas Has Second Straight Multi-Point Outing

Colorado Avalanche right wing Martin Necas contributed a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, giving him back-to-back multi-point games. The Czech star opened the scoring at even strength in Game 2 of the second-round series and added a power-play assist. Despite a slow start in the playoffs, Necas is averaging more than a point per game. He's had five points in the first two contests against Minnesota, bringing his total to seven points (one goal, six assists) in six games. While Necas' goal-scoring numbers have been disappointing in the postseason, he's getting plenty of scoring chances, averaging three SOG per game. His puck luck should eventually turn around.

4 days ago

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Joins Exclusive List With Another Three-Point Performance

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon notched one goal and two assists in Tuesday's 5-2 Game 2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. He recorded two points on the power play, including his goal. The 2024 MVP became only the sixth player in the past 40 years to post three consecutive three-point games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. MacKinnon has truly come to life after recording only one point through his first three playoff outings. With six games played, MacKinnon boasts four goals and six assists. This could be a highly productive series for the Avalanche superstar, as Minnesota's defense is struggling badly, allowing 14 goals in two games.

4 days ago

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Expected to Remain Out Tuesday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is expected to miss a third consecutive game on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports. The veteran continues to nurse an upper-body injury sustained during Colorado's first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. Nick Blankenburg has played in Manson's absence, but the Avalanche may have different plans for Tuesday night. The team brought up Jack Ahcan from the minors ahead of Game 2, and he could get a chance to play. Ahcan had a great year in the AHL this season, ranking second among defensemen with 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) in 61 games.

4 days ago

Cale Makar • D • Avalanche

Cale Makar Good to Go for Game 2 Against Wild

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (undisclosed) will play in Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. In the series opener, Makar was injured early in the game and missed most of the first period. However, he finished the game and had a big impact, scoring two goals and adding an assist in a 9-6 victory. After a slow start in the playoffs, Makar has put together a three-game point streak. Overall, he has notched four goals and one assist in five games. On Tuesday, he will aim to record his first four-game postseason point streak since the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

5 days ago

Cale Makar • D • Avalanche

Cale Makar Shakes Off Injury to Collect Three Points in Game 1

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar opened the second-round series against the Minnesota Wild with three points in a 9-6 win on Sunday. The star defenseman sat out most of the first period due to an apparent lower-body injury, but he made a big impact in the game. Makar produced an assist early in the second period and scored two goals in the third. In the high-scoring affair, the Avalanche saw four different defensemen score in a playoff game for the first time in franchise history. Devon Toews added three assists to finish with a game-high four points. Makar has started to pick up speed in the playoffs, recording points in three consecutive outings. In total, he's notched five points (four goals, one assist) in five games.

6 days ago

Joel Kiviranta • LW • Avalanche

Joel Kiviranta Remains Out of the Lineup Versus Minnesota

Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta (undisclosed) will not be able to return on Sunday night against the Minnesota Wild. He did not skate over the weekend at all and had already missed two games. For a day-to-day issue, missing skates is crucial in determining the status of a player. Kiviranta's next chance to play is on Tuesday in Game 2. If he cannot go, then the Colorado left winger would then potentially be a question mark to travel to Minnesota. Also, there is no guarantee Kiviranta would get into the lineup. The fourth-liner had three goals and six assists in 51 games during the regular season.

6 days ago

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Out for Game 1 Against Minnesota

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) got through an entire practice on Saturday unscathed. However, that was not enough, as the Colorado defenseman will not play in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild. Manson has not played since aggravating an injury on April 23 against the Los Angeles Kings. Many hoped the injury was not that serious, but it is significant enough. Manson had two assists in three games, but his physical presence will be missed against the Wild on Sunday night. The next chance he will have to return is Tuesday night. The concern is that his upper-body issue is not really a day-to-day problem, as head coach Jared Bednar insists.

6 days ago

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Day-to-Day Ahead of Game 1 Against Wild

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is day-to-day ahead of Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports reports. He has been nursing an upper-body injury since being hurt on April 23 against the Los Angeles Kings. Overall, the first round went well for Manson, who managed two assists and 10 hits in three games. If Manson remains unavailable on Sunday, Nick Blankenburg will stay in the lineup after logging 12:35 as his replacement in last weekend's Game 4 against the Kings.

7 days ago

Joel Kiviranta • LW • Avalanche

Joel Kiviranta Considered Day-to-Day

Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta (undisclosed) is day-to-day, Bailey Curtis of DNVR Sports reports. Kiviranta didn't play in the last two games of Colorado's first-round sweep against the Los Angeles Kings and hasn't been practicing. If he doesn't progress well enough, Kiviranta will be forced to sit out a third consecutive game on Sunday against the Minnesota Wild. Ross Colton has played during Kiviranta's absence. But he has averaged only 10:33 of ice time in two appearances this postseason and could be scratched once Kiviranta is ready to return.

7 days ago

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Records Three Points in Series-Clincher

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and dished out one assist as the team completed a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, winning 5-1 on the road. MacKinnon opened the scoring on the power play in the first period and added a couple more points in the third. His second goal of the game came on an empty net. Colorado dominated the series despite MacKinnon finishing scoreless in two of the four games. Regardless, MacKinnon is averaging a point per game through his first four postseason outings in 2026 and still has room to improve.

Apr 27

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Not Expected to Play Sunday

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is set to miss Sunday's Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Manson is "unlikely" to play on Sunday. The veteran defenseman missed Saturday's practice after sustaining an upper-body injury on Thursday in Game 3 of the series. Manson started the playoffs well, recording two assists and 10 hits in three games. Nick Blankenburg is set to take his spot in the lineup as the Presidents' Trophy winners aim to complete a first-round sweep against the Kings.

Apr 25

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Evaluated for Upper-Body Injury

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson is being evaluated for an upper-body injury after Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, Corey Masisak of the Denver Post reports. Manson was injured in the first period after taking a hit from Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson. He tried to return to the game in the second period but clearly wasn't himself. The 12-year-old veteran logged only 4:57 of ice time, recording one assist, one hit, and four penalty minutes. Manson, who has registered assists in back-to-back games, has until Sunday to recover from his injury. If he can't play in Game 4, Nick Blankenburg will likely be thrown into action.

Apr 24

Scott Wedgewood • G • Avalanche

Scott Wedgewood Keeps Kraken From Scoring Thursday

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood recorded a 22-save shutout in Thursday's regular-season finale against the Seattle Kraken, backstopping the team to a 2-0 victory. The Avalanche did just enough to close out the campaign with a win, while resting some of its key players, such as Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. Colorado dominated the league during the regular season, finishing with the best record, the most goals scored, and the fewest goals allowed. The latter achievement brought Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood the 2025-26 William M. Jennings Trophy. Including six shootout deciders, the Avalanche netminders gave up only 203 goals during the season. Wedgewood finished the campaign with a 31-6-6 record, a 2.02 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and four shutouts.

Apr 17

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon Wins Rocket Richard Trophy With 53 Goals

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (rest) has become the second player in franchise history to lead the NHL in goals. He produced 53 goals in 80 games, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy by a two-goal margin over Montreal's Cole Caufield. Milan Hejduk was previously Colorado's lone Rocket Richard Trophy winner, having netted 50 goals in 2002-03. MacKinnon sat out the Avalanche's regular-season finale on Thursday against Seattle, finishing the campaign with 127 points. He will now start a chase for his second Stanley Cup. While Colorado hasn't had much joy in the playoffs since its triumph in 2022, MacKinnon's performance levels have remained high. He has posted 14 goals and 32 points across 25 games in the last three postseasons.

Apr 17

Josh Manson • D • Avalanche

Josh Manson Expected to Return for Postseason

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) is expected to rejoin the lineup at the start of the postseason, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. Colorado will wrap up its regular-season schedule on Thursday night against Seattle, and Mason will remain out for a third consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. However, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar believes the team will be at full strength for Game 1 of the playoffs. Manson had his second 30-point campaign in 2025-26, with five goals and 26 assists in 79 outings. He finishes among the team leaders with a plus-42 rating, 99 blocks, and 174 hits.

Apr 16

Nathan MacKinnon • C • Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas Sit Out Regular-Season Finale

Colorado Avalanche forwards Nathan MacKinnon (rest) and Martin Necas (rest) won't suit up on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now reports. Colorado has decided to rest its two highest scorers for the regular season finale. Gabriel Landeskog might also join them on the sidelines, while Nazem Kadri (finger) has been ruled out for a fifth straight game. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expects everyone to be ready for the start of the playoffs. Artturi Lehkonen, Brock Nelson, and Valeri Nichushkin are expected to form the first line on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the likes of Parker Kelly and Nicolas Roy could also take on more responsibilities.

Apr 16

Cale Makar • D • Avalanche

Cale Makar Returns With Three-Assist Performance

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (upper body) racked up three assists as he returned from a seven-game absence in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. The Presidents' Trophy winners celebrated a road win after Artturi Lehkonen, Gabriel Landeskog, and Nathan MacKinnon scored. This was Makar's second consecutive three-assist outing. With one more regular-season game to go, Makar has already secured a sixth consecutive campaign with a scoring average of at least one point per game. In 74 outings, he has tallied 20 goals and 58 assists. By his standards, Makar had a quiet postseason a year ago, with five points (one goal, four assists) in seven games, but only two blue-liners all-time have averaged more playoff points than him (1.08). An underwhelming postseason showing last year should serve as fuel for Makar to elevate his game this time.

Apr 15

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