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Avalanche GameDay: Annunen Expected Starter Against Calgary

Originally posted on The Avs Report | By Ryan Sikes | Last updated 3/12/24

The Colorado Avalanche are in Calgary for the first of a four-game road trip. The Avalanche will look to improve upon their 14-14-5 record away from Ball Arena.

A few notes ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Flames.

Justus Annunen is the expected starter on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is coming off back-to-back shutouts against the Chicago Blackhawks. He is 3-2-1 in six starts this season with a 2.33 GAA and a 0.929 SV%.

Zach Parise participated in morning skate in a non-contact sweater. However, he will not play tonight.

Artturi Lehkonen was absent from morning skate. Per Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, Lehkonen is sick and will be out of the lineup. I wonder if we see Jonathan Drouin back atop the lineup with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

Jacob Markstrom is the expected starter for Calgary. The Swedish netminder is 7-5-1 in 13 previous appearances against Colorado with a 0.914 SV% and 2.59 GAA.

UPDATE: Markstrom is out

Markstrom took today’s morning skate in the starter’s net like normal and was first off the ice indicating he’d start.

Vladar came off shortly afterwards. Assuming Vladar now gets the start tonight vs. Colorado. #Flames https://t.co/8on22A4sOv

— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) March 12, 2024

Old friend alert: Nazem Kadri had great things to say about MacKinnon’s special season:

Nazem Kadri on #Avs Nathan MacKinnon's candidacy for the Hart Trophy:

"I'm really, really rooting for him to get it done this year. I'll try to hold him off the scoresheet tonight, but after that, he can light it up."

— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) March 12, 2024

Tuesday will mark the third and final time the Avalanche and Flames meet during the regular season. Colorado took the two previous contests, both at Ball Arena, 3-1 in late November and 6-5 in mid-December.

Valeri Nichushkin will skate in his 500th career game on Tuesday. The 29-year-old has 111 career goals, 88 of those with Colorado, and 264 points in his career.

#Avs are trickling onto the ice at the Saddledome. Zach Parise is in a red no-contact jersey. Val Nichuskin appears to be headed back to PP1 after one game.

Gabe Landeskog is with the team here in Calgary as well. He was riding a stationary bike before the skate began.

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) March 12, 2024

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. MT.

(Featured Image Credit: AP Photo / David Zalubowski)

This article first appeared on The Avs Report and was syndicated with permission.

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