COLORADO AVALANCHE NEWS

Nathan MacKinnon - Distributes two power-play helpers MacKinnon notched a pair of power-play assists, three hits, two blocked shots and a minus-2 rating in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Bruins.

Impact MacKinnon has gotten on the scoresheet in all four games this season, including three multi-point performances, despite the Avalanche's 0-4-0 start. The center has a goal, six helpers, 13 shots on net, five hits and a minus-6 rating. He's got the talent to put the offense on his back even as injuries mount for the team, but the Avalanche's defensive woes have so far been too much for MacKinnon to overcome. He'll remain an elite source of points and shots throughout the campaign.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Ross Colton - Nets power-play goal Colton scored a power-play goal on four shots, doled out five hits and blocked two shots in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Bruins.

Impact Colton has two goals, one assist, 13 shots on net, 17 hits and a minus-4 rating through four contests this season. The 28-year-old remained on the second line Wednesday, and with injuries once again piling up for the Avalanche, he could stay in that role for a while. Colton's offense isn't always consistent, but he can chip in with shots and hits in spades while playing in the top six.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Mikko Rantanen - Contributes three points in loss Rantanen scored a goal on four shots, dished two assists, added four PIM and went minus-2 in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Bruins.

Impact Rantanen earned all three points on the power play, but the Avalanche couldn't get anything going at even strength. The 27-year-old was moved to the second line Wednesday as head coach Jared Bednar tries to spark his team, which is now 0-4-0 to begin the year. Rantanen hasn't been the problem, earning four goals, three assists and 16 shots on net over four contests.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Cale Makar - Racks up three points in win Makar scored a goal on two shots, added two assists and went minus-2 in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Bruins.

Impact All three of Makar's points came on the power play in his best game of the young season. Still, he's had defensive struggles, which have been thrust into the spotlight with goaltender Alexandar Georgiev off to a horrid start. Makar has a goal, seven assists, six shots on net, four hits and a minus-6 rating through four appearances.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Alexandar Georgiev - Skid continues Wednesday Georgiev allowed four goals on 24 shots in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Bruins. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.

Impact All four goals Georgiev gave up were in the first half of the game. That gave the Avalanche a chance at a late comeback, but they came up just short. The 28-year-old has lost three of his four starts while giving up 17 goals on 86 shots. Georgiev has at least stayed between the pipes for the full games in his last two starts, but fantasy managers hoping he'd bounce back after a poor 2023-24 may want to consider other options at this point. The Avalanche's next game is Friday at home versus the Ducks.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Two quick goals help Bruins keep Avalanche winless David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm scored 13 seconds apart in the second period and the Boston Bruins beat the scuffling Colorado Avalanche...

OCTOBER 17 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Lindholm has goal, assist, Bruins hold off Avalanche | NHL.com Pastrnak, Coyle score; Rantanen, Makar each gets 3 points for Colorado, which falls to 0-4-0

OCTOBER 17 • NHL.COM

Miles Wood - Suffers injury Wednesday Wood appeared to suffer an arm injury in Wednesday's game versus the Bruins, but there was no update on his status after the contest, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.

Impact The Avalanche's injury list is growing, with Wood joining Jonathan Drouin (upper body) as injured forwards since the season started. An update on Wood's status should be available prior to Friday's home game versus the Ducks.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Bruins hold on for 5-3 win, Avalanche drop 4 in a row to start season for 1st time since 1998-99

David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm scored 13 seconds apart in the second period as the Boston Bruins beat Colorado 5-3, sending the Avalanche to their fourth straight loss

OCTOBER 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boston Bruins - Colorado Avalanche - Oct 16, 2024 | NHL.com NHL Gamecenter - Boston Bruins vs. Colorado Avalanche, Oct 16, 2024 - summary, stats, boxscore, play by play, recap and more.

OCTOBER 17 • NHL.COM

Canucks: Erik Brannstrom gets a look with recall from Abbotsford The winless Vancouver Canucks are set to shuffle their defence corps, just three games into the 2024-25 NHL season. Find out more.

OCTOBER 16 • THEPROVINCE.COM

Devon Toews - Won't play Wednesday Toews (lower body) will miss Wednesday's matchup versus Boston, Avalanche play-by-play announcer Conor McGahey reports.

Impact Toews will be out of action for his second straight contest due to his lower-body injury. Without the blueliner in the lineup, Sam Malinski saw minutes with the No. 2 power-play unit but is far from a lock to maintain that role long-term. Oliver Kylington will continue to fill in for Toews on the top pairing with Cale Makar as well.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Stienburg - Up from minors Stienburg was recalled by Colorado on Wednesday.

Impact Stienburg has a goal and an assist in two contests with AHL Colorado in 2024-25. The 24-year-old hasn't made his NHL debut yet, but that might change soon. The Avalanche are set to face Boston on Wednesday.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Nikolai Kovalenko - Returns to NHL club Kovalenko was recalled by the Avalanche on Wednesday.

Impact Kovalenko was sent to the AHL on Tuesday, but he'll rejoin the injury-plagued Avalanche ahead of Wednesday's game against Boston. Over his first three NHL appearances of the season, he's tallied eight hits and two blocked shots while averaging 14:06 of ice time.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Ivan Ivan - Returning from minors Ivan was called up from AHL Colorado on Wednesday.

Impact Ivan should immediately jump back into the lineup in a bottom-six role, as the Avs continue to play cap gymnastics with their forward group. In addition to Ivan, the team also brought back Nikolai Kovalenko and Matthew Steinberg, both of whom should also see minutes versus Boston on Wednesday.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Artturi Lehkonen - Will be evaluated Oct. 28 Lehkonen (shoulder) will meet with the team doctor Oct. 28 to be evaluated, according to Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette on Wednesday.

Impact Lehkonen and the Avalanche should have a better idea of his timetable after that meeting. The 29-year-old forward hasn't played yet in 2024-25. He had 16 goals and 34 points in 45 regular-season outings last campaign.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Drouin - Not close to returning Drouin (upper body) will be re-evaluated Oct. 28, per Adrian Hernandez of Mile High Hockey on Wednesday.

Impact Drouin is set to miss at least six more games in the meantime. He sustained the injury in Colorado's season-opening 8-4 loss to Vegas on Oct. 9. When Drouin is healthy, he's expected to serve in a top-six capacity.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Alexandar Georgiev - Set to start Wednesday Georgiev is slated to start in the home crease during Wednesday's game against Boston, Alex Rajaniemi of Altitude Sports Radio reports.

Impact Georgiev has struggled early in the season, posting an 0-2-0 record, 6.55 GAA and .790 save percentage over three appearances. He gave up five goals on 37 shots during Monday's loss to the Islanders but will have a chance to bounce back against the Bruins at home Wednesday.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

New York visits St. Louis after Nelson's 2-goal game

The New York Islanders visit the St. Louis Blues after Brock Nelson scored two goals in the Islanders' 6-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche

OCTOBER 16 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Canucks: Who is the real Erik Brannstrom? A big bust or a late bloomer? Erik Brannstrom, the 2017 first-round draft choice, made a seamless transition to Abbotsford with three assists in his first two AHL games.

OCTOBER 15 • THEPROVINCE.COM

HockeyBuzz.com - Ben Shelley - Islanders score six goals, take down Avalanche for first win of season NHL Hockey Trade Rumors

OCTOBER 15 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM

Josh Manson - Posts assist in loss Manson notched an assist and three blocked shots in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Islanders.

Impact Manson has two helpers, five shots on net, five hits and three blocks through three contests. He's also gone minus-4, but that's due to Colorado getting woeful goaltending through three games. Manson is a physical defenseman who is poised to play regularly in a bottom-four role this season. In 2023-24, he had 25 points in 76 regular-season games, which was his best production on offense since 2017-18.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Nikolai Kovalenko - Headed back to minors Kovalenko was reassigned to AHL Colorado on Tuesday.

Impact This marks Kovalenko's third demotion in October, a trend that figures to continue as long as the Avs are trying to save some cap space. Fantasy players can likely expect the winger to be back on the NHL roster ahead of Wednesday's matchup with the Bruins.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Cale Makar - Provides helper Monday Makar notched an assist in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Islanders. He also registered two shots, one hit, one blocked shot and a minus-3 rating.

Impact One of the best offensive blue-liners in the game, Makar has contributed directly to five of Colorado's 10 goals thus far, though that shouldn't be surprising since he's coming off a 2023-24 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 90 points, including 69 assists. Even though he's yet to find the back of the net, Makar remains an important player in the Avalanche's offensive scheme, and he should remain a threat from the blue line when Colorado aims to secure its first win of the season Wendesday against Boston.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Casey Mittelstadt - Extends scoring streak Mittelstadt scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Islanders.

Impact The Avs are enduring a tough start to the season, but Mittelstadt has been very productive and has found the back of the net in his first three appearances thus far while tallying eight total shots. He'll aim to extend that goalscoring streak to four games when the Avalanche take on the Bruins on Wednesday.

OCTOBER 15 • ROTOWIRE