“You really can’t replace a guy like Mikko”: Avalanche’s two important forwards are out for the Dallas Stars game.
Due to injury, the Colorado Avalanche lines will change, missing a top-line and a mid-six forward.
According to head coach Jared Bednar, Rantanen is in the concussion protocol after taking a high hit from Mattias Ekholm during the 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Before Sunday morning skate, he worked out on Saturday and went for a solo skate. Bednar stated that he was “day-to-day” and expressed optimism for a fast recovery.
It’s never easy, of course, when our best players—Nate MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and those guys—get hurt. Hopefully, he recovers quickly. A guy like Mikko is incredibly hard to replace, according to Jonathan Drouin.
It is anticipated that Valeri Nichushkin will move to the top line in the 27-year-old Finn’s absence. He’s about Rantanen’s size and grit, and he knows and feels at ease in that line.
Due to Wood’s lower-body injury, Yakov Trenin will probably play on the third line alongside Ross Colton and Zach Parise while Wood is out indefinitely. With some call-ups and reinforcements returning, Bednar is certain his club will adapt to the new situation.
“(Joel) Kiviranta and Wagner return to the starting lineup; both players have performed incredibly well for us. “(Andrew) Cogliano will make up the fourth line,” Bednar remarked. We still have a full roster of NHL players since that line scored two goals against Dallas in Dallas, you know what I mean? Everyone who can contribute to help us win tonight, please do so. Therefore, even if we’re missing a few important players, it’s clear that we brought back a few men who are still getting their bearings and feeling comfortable.”
With Scott Wedgewood in goal yesterday afternoon, Dallas was defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks. After a 5-0 shutout victory over the Oilers, goalie Jake Oettinger is anticipated to start against the Avs.
Keys to controlling the Stars’ goalie include “get traffic, shoot pucks, track down rebounds and secondary opportunities, deflections—got to make it tough on him,” according to Bednar. “If you let him see everything he’s going to save it.”
The Avalanche’s Alexandar Georgiev will get the start, and Bednar stated he expects his goalkeeper and the rest of his team to come back strong.
anticipated lineup
Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin
Zach Parise, Ross Colton, Yakov Trenin, Artturi Lehkonen, Casey Mittelstadt, and Brandon Duhaime
Joel Kiviranta, Chris Wagner, and Andrew Cogliano
Toews, Devon — Cale Makar
Girard, Samuel — Josh Manson
Sean Walker — Jack Johnson
Georgiev, Alexandar
Annunen Justus
ESPN will broadcast the game nationwide, with a puck drop scheduled for 8:08 p.m. MT.
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