Colorado Avalanche Game Day: The list of injuries keeps growing as the Avs look to extend their winning streak

Despite being off for the last three days, the Colorado Avalanche got some bad news as Cale Makar’s has been ruled out of the lineup for the next little while with an upper body injury. The team has already placed their star defender on the IR meaning that he will be out of the lineup for at last the next few days.

Time: 7:00 PM Mountain Time

Location: Ball Arena

Television: Altitude2, BSOH

Despite the loss of Makar, the Avs will be looking to win their third straight game for the first time this season. They will take on a Columbus team that come to town with a 5-3-0 record though they have only recorded one win on the road so far this season.

Colorado Avalanche

Despite a few extra days off, Mikko Rantanen is not expected to be back in the lineup tonight for the Avs. He and Val Nichushkin were skating in non-contact jerseys yesterday as they try to work their way back into the lineup.

On top of the ones who are certainly out of the lineup tonight, Andre Burakovky is doubtful to play.

Luckily for the Avs both Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landskog have looked great early on this season as they try to carry the offensive load - along with the surprising production form JT. Compher - while the injured players are out of the lineup.

MacKinnon will be looking to extend his season long point streak to seven games tonight.

We should expect to get some news on a call up or two later today.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Expected to be near the bottom of the Easter Conference standings this season, the Blue Jackets have played surprising well early on. Oliver Bjorgstrand has led the way with 10 points in eight games while Patrik Laine seems to have found new life averaging a point per game so far this season.

After being selected in he first round of the 2021 draft, Cole Sillinger surprised many by making the opening night lineup for Columbus. The 18-year old hometown boy has looked like he fits in the NHL but if Columbus decides they don’t want to burn a year of his ELC, tonight might be his last game before being sent down.

Starting Goalies

After practice yesterday, Coach Bednar confirmed that Jonas Johansson will be making the start for the Avs tonight. He comes into this game with a 0-1 record having stopped 34 of the 37 shots faced in his only start of the season.

For Columbus we are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins who has been one of the best goalies in the league early this season sporting a 4-1 record and a .939 sv%.