After serving as a healthy scratch on Thursday, Middleton will get the chance to play on Friday as the Avalanche opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Oliver Kylington will sit in his place.
Blackwood will start his second game in as many nights when the Avalanche travel to Edmonton on Friday. Blackwood turned in a stellar performance last night, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced in a 4-2 victory in Calgary. The 28-year-old netminder has been spectacular between the pipes for the Avs since being acquired from the Sharks earlier this season, registering a 13-6-2 record and a .926 SV%. He will need to be at his best again on Friday as the Avalanche enter action at +150 on the money line against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
Middleton will take a seat on Thursday as Calvin de Haan draws into the lineup in his place. Middleton has zero goals and two assists in 26 games this season.
Colorado will roll with Blackwood between the pipes for a sixth straight game on Thursday when they visit the Calgary Flames. Blackwood played well in his most recent outing despite a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%). He has a 2.04 GAA and .926 SV% in 20 games with the Sharks this season (12-6-2). Colorado enters the action on Thursday as -155 road favorites against a Flames club that has scored three or fewer goals in five of their last six games (2-4-0).
Manson exited Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks and will be shut down for Colorado's final two games before the two-week hiatus to accommodate the 4-Nations Face-Off tournament. The 33-year-old Manson is averaging 18:12 time-on-ice and has 13 points (1G / 12A) in 43 games this season. Oliver Kylington will return from an undisclosed injury to replace Manson.
Colorado will likely roll with Blackwood between the pipes for a sixth straight game on Thursday when they visit the Calgary Flames. Blackwood played well in his most recent outing despite a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%). He has a 2.04 GAA and .926 SV% in 20 games with the Sharks this season (12-6-2). Colorado enters the action on Thursday as -155 road favorites against a Flames club that has scored three or fewer goals in five of their last six games (2-4-0).
Blackwood will make his 19th start as a member of the Avalanche when Colorado travels to Vancouver on Tuesday. Blackwood is red-hot coming into Tuesday night's matchup, posting back-to-back shutouts against the Blues and Flyers, respectively. The 28-year-old netminder is enjoying life in Denver, registering a 12-5-2 record and a .925 SV% since being acquired from the Sharks earlier this season. He's got a good chance of staying in the win column on Tuesday as the Avalanche enter action at -150 on the money line.
Nichushkin was listed as day-to-day after suffering his injury on January 1st but suffered a setback, downgrading his status to week-to-week. Assuming no further setbacks, Nichushkin will miss five more games before returning against the Nashville Predators on February 22nd when the NHL resumes from its two-week hiatus for the Four Nations tournament. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.
Middleton will slot in for Calvin de Haan, who is a healthy scratch on Friday. Middleton is yet to score a goal and has just one assist in 23 games this season.
Colorado has struggled lately, losing four of their last five (1-3-1), and will turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Blackwood has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in five straight (1-3-1), posting a .874 SV%. He has a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 games with the Avalanche this season (10-5-2). Colorado enters Friday's contest as -175 home favorites against a St. Louis team outscored 11-4 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Colorado has struggled lately, losing four of their last five (1-3-1), and will likely turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Blackwood has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in five straight (1-3-1), posting a .874 SV%. He has a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 games with the Avalanche this season (10-5-2). Colorado enters Friday's contest as -175 home favorites against a St. Louis team outscored 11-4 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Recently recalled Adam Ginning will make his Flyers' season debut on Thursday, resulting in Johnson being a healthy scratch. The veteran Johnson is averaging 13:29 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 18 games this season.
Nichushkin was listed as day-to-day after suffering his injury on January 1st but suffered a setback last week, downgrading his status to week-to-week. Assuming no further setbacks, Nichushkin will miss five more games before returning against the Nashville Predators on February 22nd when the NHL resumes from its two-week hiatus for the Four Nations tournament. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.
