Avs could be shorthanded on D; Graves, Girard status unknown

May 1, 2021 - 3:45 PM ET

The Avalanche got an even bigger boost than expected Friday with the return of goalie Philipp Grubauer and forwards Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi, who had been in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Grubauer made 21 saves, Rantanen had an empty-net goal and two assists, and Donskoi an assist in the Avalan...

Graves to return vs. Sharks; Newhook to make debut on trip

May 3, 2021 - 4:34 PM ET

Defenseman Ryan Graves will return Monday when the Avalanche play in San Jose to open a five-game road trip. Coach Jared Bednar no longer reveals the lineup, but he did say Graves would play after missing one game with an upper-body injury. “Good to have him back, another veteran D-man in t...

Avs, Kadri hopeful slump is over

May 4, 2021 - 6:53 PM ET

Every player, regardless of how talented they are or what sport they play, will go through slumps at one time or another. It’s inevitable. That doesn’t make it any easier and the longer one goes without producing, the pressure mounts along with the mental strain. It was no different for Av...

Newhook will make his NHL debut; MacDonald healthy, returns

May 5, 2021 - 4:16 PM ET

Alex Newhook will make his NHL debut Wednesday when the Avalanche play San Jose at SAP Center in the finale of their four-game set. Newhook, 20, will center a line with Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky. He was the Avalanche’s second first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2019 NHL draft after they sel...

Rantanen is fined $2k for diving; Avs have lost ground in West race

May 6, 2021 - 7:45 PM ET

The NHL announced Thursday that Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen was fined $2,000 for embellishment (diving) in an April 30 game against San Jose. The incident took place at 7:21 of the second period after he was tripped by Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro, who was assessed a minor penalty. Ran...

Need to rebound from bad loss

May 7, 2021 - 6:39 PM ET

The Avalanche probably can’t afford to lose any of their remaining five regular-season games in order to overtake Vegas for first place in the West Division, starting Friday at Staples Center in Los Angeles when they face the Kings in the first of a back-to-back set. This is especially true aft...

MacKinnon, Nemeth questionable when Avs face Kings tonight

May 8, 2021 - 4:28 PM ET

The Avalanche could be without Nathan MacKinnon and Patrik Nemeth on Saturday when they close out a two-game set with the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. MacKinnon didn’t play in the Avalanche’s 3-2 win Friday because of a lower-body injury and Nemeth sustained an upper-body injury in th...

MacKinnon to play vs. Vegas; Nichushkin is Masterton nominee

May 10, 2021 - 4:54 PM ET

Nathan MacKinnon will play Monday when the Avalanche face Vegas in a game that will determine if they remain in the hunt for first place in the West Division. The Golden Knights would clinch first with a win. Here are the GAME NOTES. MacKinnon, the Avalanche’s leading scorer with 65 poi...