The Colorado Avalanche (1-4-0) skate into SAP Center tonight without that still hasn’t won a game chip on the team’s shoulders. The Avs took care of that issue on Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks, notching the team’s first two points of the season. Meantime, the San Jose Sharks (0-3-2) have two points, but still don’t have a win.
The Avs carry a top heavy lineup, which is why many pundits believe the team is struggling to start the season. There is a lot of money tied up in players that aren’t playing now, but could be soon. That leaves the Avs with the inability to get help until these players arrive.
One of those players is Valeri Nichushkin, who is not playing with the team yet but is skating. He is still in the NHL Players’ Association Player Assistance Program.
UPDATE: Kaapo Kahkonen has arrived in Denver and will practice with the team today.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 19, 2024
Valeri Nichushkin has also arrived in Denver and will begin to workout and skate on his own. He remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program.
No word on when Gabriel Landeskog will be available to play. The forward has been on long-term injured reserve for more than a full season. While he’s been skating, it’s a slow process. Then there’s Artturi Lehkonen, who had shoulder surgery. There’s also no timeline for his return. Between those three players, that’s more than $17 million in salary per season.
While Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon have done their best to hold down the fort, the team isn’t getting the goaltending support that it needs. Alexandar Georgiev is 1-3-0 with a 4.99 goals against average and .811 save percentage. Backup Justus Annunen is 0-1-0 with a 4.69 goals against average and a .765 save percentage.
To try and get some security in net, the Avs have claimed Kaapo Kahkonen off the waiver wire. He joined the team yesterday and could be ready to play soon. Aside from that, the Avalanche could also look into a trade. Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday that Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood might be the most likely target for the Avs.
San Jose Sharks lines against the Avalanche
The Sharks appear to be slow playing Macklin Celebrini’s return, so I doubt he’s playing tonight. I expect that Will Smith and William Eklund are both back in, but can’t be positive. I’m going to guess that the lines we saw in Chicago with Will Smith on the third line and Danil Gushchin and Givani Smith sitting. It’s not my ideal, but it’s the most likely of scenarios.
If we’re continuing this back and forth, then it’s Vitek Vanecek’s turn to start
Forwards
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Tyler Toffoli
Klim Kostin – Alex Wennberg – Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow – Will Smith – Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Ty Dellandrea
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun – Matt Benning
Goaltenders
Vitek Vanecek
Mackenzie Blackwood
Colorado Avalanche lines for Oct. 20, 2024
As for the Avs, this is what Daily Faceoff reported the lines were on Oct. 18. We’ll guess those
Fowards
Ross Colton – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Nikolai Kovalenko – Casey Mittelstadt – Logan O’Connor
Miles Wood – Parker Kelly – Calum Ritchie
Ivan Ivan – Matthew Stienburg – Joel Kiviranta
Defense
John Ludvig – Cale Makar
Samuel Girard – Josh Mason
Calvin de Haan – Sam Malinski
Goaltenders
Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen
How to watch Avalanche at Sharks tonight
The puck drop is 5 p.m. PT/6 p.m MT tonight at SAP Center. Sharks fans can catch the game on NBC Sports California or listen through the Sharks Audio Network.
If your an Avalanche fan, you can catch the game on Altitude TV or listen on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.
The game should be available for out of market viewers on ESPN+.
If you’re at home enjoying the game, join us here, where fans will be talking in the comments about what’s happening on the ice and off of it.