Ivan has not played since December 27th due to an upper-body injury and has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL). The 22-year-old Czech forward has eight points (5G / 3A) in 37 games this season.
Polin is an undrafted product of Western Michigan University. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in seven games. He has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games with the Colorado Eagles.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, Blackwood is expected return to the crease on Thursday in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood has an impressive 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 28 games this season (13-10-4). Even more remarkable, the 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado, boasting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .938 SV% in nine appearances (7-1-1).
On the tail end of a back-to-back, Blackwood is expected return to the crease on Thursday in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Wild. Blackwood has an impressive 2.58 GAA and .917 SV% in 28 games this season (13-10-4). Even more remarkable, the 28-year-old Blackwood has been sensational since joining Colorado, boasting an absurd 1.69 GAA and .938 SV% in nine appearances (7-1-1).
Miner was recalled last week after Scott Wedgewood (lower body) was injured and will make his first career start on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Miner was a seventh-round pick of Colorado in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old netminder was excellent in the AHL last season, posting a 2.10 GAA and .930 SV% in 18 games (9-6-1), but has fallen off slightly in the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.47 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 outings (8-5-3). Colorado enters Wednesday's contest as sizeable -230 road favorites against a Chicago team outscored 25-11 in their last five games (1-4-0).
Originally slated to return on Colorado's upcoming three-game road trip, Nichushkin has been ruled out for those games by head coach Jared Bednar. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.
The Avalanche travel to Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively, meaning Nichushkin should return by the weekend at the latest. Nichushkin has not played since suffering the injury on New Year's Eve against the Jets. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.
Colorado will roll with Blackwood between the pipes on Monday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Blackwood was excellent in his previous outing, a losing effort, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in 27 games this season (12-10-4). The Avalanche enter Monday's contest as -117 home favorites against a Panthers club that has only scored eight goals in their previous five games (2-3-0).
Wedgewood was hurt after Zach Benson fell on his right leg in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Wedgewood had to be helped off the ice and was reportedly wearing a boot post-game. Colorado has recalled Trent Miner to serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup in the interim.
Scott Wedgewood exited Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres after a collision with Zach Benson and is expected to be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. Miner could serve as the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood for the entirety of Wedgewood's absence as Colorado head coach Jared Bednar stated that Blackwood will likely see a heavy workload. The 23-year-old Miner has a 2.47 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games (8-5-3) with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.
Manson has only played three games since returning from a 12-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old Manson is averaging 18:00 time-on-ice and has eight points (1G / 7A) in 27 games this season. It's unclear if this ailment is related to his previous injury.
Drury has been out of the lineup since suffering an injury on December 10th. The 24-year-old Drury was averaging 13:09 time-on-ice and had nine points (3G / 6A) in 28 games before his injury. In a corresponding move, Juha Jaaska was reassigned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL).
