Colorado Avalanche News

Lehkonen suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday’s game vs. the Flyers. Lehkonen missed Monday’s practice and will not play Tuesday vs. the Bruins. Consider him day-to-day.

Schwartz was expected to miss the entire month of October, but it looks like Schwartz could return earlier than expected. Monitor Schwartz’s status as the week progresses.

Kulak, 22, sat out of the first two games of the season, but will be in the lineup for Dennis Wideman on Saturday. Kulak had 17 points (3G / 14A) in 59 games with Stockton (AHL) a season ago. He has no points in nine career NHL games.

Schwartz, who hyperextended his left elbow in practice back on September 29th, was originally expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks (end of October), skated today for the first time since suffering the injury. However, Schwartz remains on his original timetable, but it is still encouraging to see that he is making progress.

This is a tough start to the 2016-17 season for Schwartz, who was limited to 33 regular season games last year due to a foot injury he suffered in October. We’re still two weeks away from the start of the season, so Schwartz should only miss the first 8-10 games.

Schwartz, 24, missed 49 games in 2015-16 after fracturing his ankle in October, but still finished with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 33 games. The injury was frustrating for his fantasy investors, who were expecting another 25-goal, 60-point season out of him. Schwartz comes into 2016-17 with that kind of potential and should be drafted as a 60-point player with the potential for 30 goals.

MacKinnon, 20, was the first overall pick in 2013 and is coming off of three strong seasons to start his NHL career. In 2015-16, MacKinnon had 21 goals and 31 assists (52 points) in 72 games. He has missed 28 games over the three years, but has scored at a strong pace—22 goals, 35 assists per 82 games. Entering his age 21 season, expect MacKinnon to take another step forward.

Statistically Kadri didn’t have the greatest season but the Maple Leafs were impressed with his development and have inked him to a very reasonable six-year extension. Kadri will look to build off of his 2015-16 season where he had 17 goals and 28 assists (45 points) in 76 games. This raise should also help him pay for all those fines that seem to be adding up.

Kadri was assessed a two-minute minor on the play, but has been suspended for the final four games of the regular season. Kadri finishes the season with 45 points (17G / 28A) in 76 games. Tyler Bozak will take over as the team’s top line centre.

The Avalanche announced earlier in the week that MacKinnon would be shutdown for the week and reevaluate his status on Sunday. It doesn’t sound like he has improved as he and Matt Duchene will miss the Avs’ two-game road trip in Nashville and St. Louis.

Wedgewood stopped the first 25 shots he faced before giving up a goal in overtime in Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Capitals. He has been sensational since being recalled from Albany, going 2-0-1 with a 0.66 GAA, .978 SV% and one shutout. He will look to keep things rolling against a Hurricanes team on a back-to-back, that has gone 1-2-4 while averaging 2.14 goals per game in their last seven.

Wedgewood stopped all 39 shots that he faced in the Devils shutout win over the Penguins last night. Despite a heavy workload, he will start again tonight vs. the Capitals. He has won each of his first two NHL starts while sipping 66 of 67 shots (.985 SV%). He faces a Washington team that has won three of their last four.

After Thursday's game, Hynes said he was undecided on who would start after Wedgewood posted a 39-save shutout vs. the Penguins. He has stopped 66 of 67 shots since being called-up.

Wedgewood stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Devils win over the Blue Jackets on Sunday. It was an impressive NHL debut from the 23-year-old netminder, who will get a stiffer test tonight in Pittsburgh. Wedgewood was 9-2-3 with a 1.69 GAA and .928 SV% with Albany before he was recalled, but Pittsburgh comes in having won six consecutive games while averaging 4.00 goals per game.

MacKinnon will miss at least the next two games before he is reevaluated on Sunday. The Avalanche said there will be no further updates until that time. This is obviously a massive hit to the Avs’ playoff chances—they are currently clinging to the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, just one spot up on Minnesota, who they’ll play on Saturday with out MacKinnon or Matt Duchene.

MacKinnon was scratched from Sunday’s game with a knee injury and is listed as day-to-day. Thankfully for the Avalanche, they’re off until Thursday, so there’s a chance that MacKinnon could be available versus the Flyers.