COLORADO AVALANCHE NEWS

Kaapo Kahkonen - Set to join team Kahkonen (not injured related) will practice with the Avalanche on Saturday.

Impact Kahkonen has arrived in Denver after settling his work visa issue. Colorado claimed the 28-year-old netminder off waivers from Winnipeg on Oct. 11. He could get a chance to see playing time soon because of the struggles of Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen this season.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Valeri Nichushkin - Arrives in Denver Nichushkin (suspension) is in Denver and to work out and skate on his own, the Avalanche announced Saturday.

Impact Nichushkin is in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and is not eligible to apply for reinstatement before Nov. 15. Nichushkin was outstanding in 2023-24, picking up 28 goals and 53 points in 54 regular-season appearances. He will be a top-six forward upon his return.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Avalanche Journal: What is the short- and long-term outlook at goaltender for Colorado? Colorado Avalanche have had a bit of a goaltending problem to start the 2024-25 season.

OCTOBER 19 • DENVERPOST.COM

San Jose takes losing streak into game against Colorado

The San Jose Sharks aim to break their five-game losing streak when they play the Colorado Avalanche

OCTOBER 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NHL roundup: Avs get first win on Nathan MacKinnon's OT goal Nathan MacKinnon scored at 4:19 of overtime, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to their first win of the season, a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim...

OCTOBER 19 • KANSASCITY.COM

Nikolai Kovalenko - Secures first NHL point Kovalenko notched an assist, three shots on goal and two hits in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact Kovalenko earned his first NHL point by setting up Casey Mittelstadt's second-period tally. Through five appearances, Kovalenko has added nine shots on net, 14 hits and a minus-3 rating. The 25-year-old winger is playing in a middle-six role and on the second power-play unit, but fantasy managers will want to see him put up an extended stretch of offense before picking him up.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Cale Makar - Hands out helper in overtime win Makar notched an assist, four shots on goal, four blocked shots, two hits and two PIM in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact Makar extended his season-opening point streak to five games when he assisted on a Casey Mittelstadt goal in the second period. The 25-year-old Makar has a goal, eight helpers, 10 shots on net, six hits, six blocked shots and a minus-6 rating. He'll continue to see a massive role in all situations, and with the Avalanche finding more success on offense, the superstar blueliner should continue to be productive.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Mikko Rantanen - Distributes three assists Friday Rantanen recorded three assists, three shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact Rantanen helped out on the Avalanche's last three goals of the game, one of which came on the power play. The winger can score with the best of them, but he's also a high-end playmaker. Rantanen already has collected a trio of three-point efforts to put himself at four goals, six assists, six power-play points and 19 shots on net through five contests this season.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Casey Mittelstadt - Earns 200th career point Mittelstadt scored a goal on six shots and added a power-play assist in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact Mittelstadt's tally was the 200th point of his career, a mark he achieved in his 362nd appearance. The center also picked up his first assist of the campaign to go with four goals through five games. He's added 17 shots on net, four blocked shots and a minus-5 rating while playing on the second line and first power-play unit.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Nathan MacKinnon - Completes comeback in overtime MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact MacKinnon helped out on a Ross Colton tally in the third period before scoring a goal of his own at 4:19 of overtime. This was MacKinnon's fourth multi-point effort through five games. The 29-year-old has two goals, seven assists, 21 shots on net, six hits, 12 PIM and a minus-5 rating this season. Considering his offense was strong amid the Avalanche's early struggles, it's safe to assume he'll continue to produce at an elite level as the team tries to make up ground in the standings.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Ross Colton - Keeps rolling with two goals Colton scored twice on five shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact Colton led the comeback charge in the third period, scoring the game-tying goal on the power play and adding a go-ahead tally at even strength. The 28-year-old has steadily moved up the lineup with the Avalanche managing multiple injuries to forwards. Colton has four goals, one assist, 18 shots on net, 18 hits and a minus-3 rating through five contests. The physical forward has earned three of his points with the man advantage, and if he can keep his power-play production strong, he could be setting the tone for a career year.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Alexandar Georgiev - Earns overtime win Georgiev stopped 17 of 20 shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.

Impact The Avalanche trailed for a long portion of the game despite controlling the pace of play. Georgiev also allowed the game-tying goal with 13 seconds left in regulation, but Nathan MacKinnon tallied in overtime to secure the team's first win of the campaign. This outing won't change the narrative around Georgiev, but a win is a win. He's allowed a total of 20 goals across five outings while posting a 1-3-0 record. The Avalanche begin a three-game road trip Sunday in San Jose. For now, Georgiev remains the No. 1 goalie, but he could be pressured by Justus Annunen or Kaapo Kahkonen if he doesn't get in a groove soon.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Energizer OT Winner: Nathan MacKinnon | NHL.com Nathan MacKinnon nets his fourteenth career overtime goal

OCTOBER 19 • NHL.COM

Avs get first win, beat Ducks in OT on Nathan MacKinnon's goal Nathan MacKinnon scored at 4:19 of overtime, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to their first win of the season, a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim...

OCTOBER 19 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Avs rally to beat Ducks for first win of season in OT DENVER - The Colorado Avalanche needed a win in the worst way, and it certainly had to overcome plen...

OCTOBER 19 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

MacKinnon scores in OT to lift Avalanche past Ducks 4-3 for 1st win

Nathan MacKinnon scored with 40.1 seconds left on the clock in overtime and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 for their first win of the season

OCTOBER 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alexandar Georgiev - Gets starting nod against Ducks Georgiev will defend the home crease versus Anaheim on Friday, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.

Impact Georgiev has been terrible in the early going, as he 0-3-0 in four starts, with a 5.80 GAA and an .802 save percentage. He was pulled in each of his first two starts and has given up a whopping 17 goals on only 86 shots. Georgiev needs to turn things around quickly, or Justus Annunen could get a crack at the No. 1 job in Colorado. The Ducks are tied for 29th in NHL scoring with eight goals in three games.

OCTOBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Miles Wood - Good to go for Friday Wood (upper body) is good to go for Friday's game against the Ducks, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Wood suffered an injury during Wednesday's game against the Bruin and said he experienced "excruciating stomach pain like [he's] never felt before." However, he underwent testing in recent days and has been cleared to dress for Friday's game against Anaheim. Over his first four appearances of the season, he's logged a goal and a minus-3 rating while averaging 12:52 of ice time.

OCTOBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Ducks out to hand Avalanche fifth straight loss to start season The Anaheim Ducks were one of the worst teams in the NHL last season, finishing with 59 points and out of the postseason.Things are going be...

OCTOBER 17 • SACBEE.COM

Devon Toews - Ruled out against Ducks Toews (lower body) will not be in action versus Anaheim on Friday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Toews will be sidelined for his third consecutive contest due to his lingering upper-body injury. Considering how long the blueliner has already been out, the Avs could designate him for injured reserve without impacting his ability to return to the lineup when healthy. Oliver Kylington looks poised to remain in a top-pairing role alongside Cale Makar while Toews is sidelined, though the team's defensive struggle could see a shake-up in defensive pairs sooner rather than later.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Miles Wood - Injury not considered serious Wood (arm) isn't believed to be dealing with a significant injury and could play Friday against the Ducks, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports Thursday.

Impact Wood sustained an apparent arm injury during Wednesday's game against the Bruins, but he appears to have avoided a significant injury. The 29-year-old has recorded a goal and a minus-3 rating while averaging 12:52 of ice time over his first four appearances of the season.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Colorado's Matt Stienburg Drops The Mitts In His First NHL Game With Dad Capturing It All On Video Colorado Avalanche rookie Matt Stienburg made his presence known by dropping the gloves with Boston's Nikita Zadorov, and his proud dad caug...

OCTOBER 17 • OUTKICK.COM

Ducks in action against the Avalanche following overtime victory

The Anaheim Ducks visit the Colorado Avalanche after the Ducks beat the Utah Hockey Club 5-4 in overtime

OCTOBER 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS