Colorado Avalanche
2026-27 · 1-0-0 · 2 pts · 2nd Central
The Colorado Avalanche are 1-0-0 (2 points) through 1 game of 2026-27, 2nd in the Central Division and 4th in the Western, with a +4 goal differential.
Next up: home to the St. Louis Blues on Sat, Oct 3, against an opponent on a back-to-back.
In the latest game, the top line has been Lehkonen – MacKinnon – Necas and the top pair Toews – Makar. PP1 is Landeskog, MacKinnon, Necas, Makar and Hughes.
At 5-on-5 in 2025-26 they have taken 56.7% of shot attempts (2nd in the NHL) and 57.8% of expected goals, outscoring opponents 216-128.
Scott Wedgewood has started 43 of 82 games with a .921 save percentage; Blackwood has 36 starts.
4 players are on the injury report.
Forwards (5-on-5)
From the last 1 game of shift data. Times are together per game.
Avalanche line combinations tool →Next game: Mackenzie Blackwood● Projected
- Scott Wedgewood43 GS · .921 SV%
- Mackenzie Blackwood36 GS · .904 SV%
- Trent Miner3 GS · .933 SV%
No notable lineup changes in the last few games.
| Goalie | Games | Exp. starts | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie Blackwood | 3 | 1.9 | 0 |
| Scott Wedgewood | 3 | 1.1 | 0 |
Fri, Oct 2 to Thu, Oct 8, from the start model with LineupExperts status applied. Tonight's starter →
Sat, Oct 3 · STL @ COL
Edge: COL +11.1 ptsBack-to-back · 1,066 km travel · -1 h
2 days rest
COL has the schedule edge (+11.1 pts net win probability): stl on a b2b, b2b vs rested col, b2b after 1,066 km.
Wed, Oct 7 · COL @ WPG
No schedule edge3 days rest · 1,286 km travel · +1 h
1 day rest · 1,700 km travel · -1 h
No meaningful schedule edge: COL (3 days rest) at WPG (1 day rest).
Thu, Oct 8 · COL @ CGY
Edge: CGY +13.6 ptsBack-to-back · 1,201 km travel · -1 h
3 days rest · 711 km travel · +1 h
CGY has the schedule edge (+13.6 pts net win probability): col on a b2b, col backup likely (61%), b2b vs rested cgy, b2b after 1,201 km, backup likely (61%).
for Avalanche's next games, as win-probability edges.
2 P in last 1 (0.50/GP before) · +1:09 PP TOI
Last 5 games vs the previous 20, through Oct 1, 2026. Full Ascension board →
Next: vs St. Louis Blues, Sat, Oct 3
- Wed, Sep 30vs LAKW 8-4
| Player | GP | G | A | P | PP TOI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon C | 80 | 53 | 74 | 127 | 22:16 | 4:13 | 57.6% |
| Martin Necas C | 78 | 38 | 62 | 100 | 21:30 | 4:00 | 56.1% |
| Cale Makar D | 75 | 20 | 59 | 79 | 24:51 | 4:06 | 54.8% |
| Brock Nelson C | 81 | 33 | 32 | 65 | 19:39 | 3:14 | 57.5% |
| Valeri Nichushkin R | 72 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 17:44 | 1:53 | 57.6% |
| Artturi Lehkonen L | 70 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 18:29 | 2:16 | 55.5% |
Season: 2025-26 (until 2026-27 has 5 games).
Central Division
- PP1Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas – Cale Makar – T.J. Hughes4:08
43 PP goals in 440:22 of man-advantage time (30th in GF/60).
- Zachary L'HeureuxLWInjured ReserveLower Body · L'Heureux is currently on injured reserve, and it's unclear when he will be ready to return. He has been ruled out for at least Wednesday's matchup against the Kings. With Logan O'Connor (lower body) also un
- Logan O'ConnorRWInjured ReserveLower Body · O'Connor is on injured reserve and won't play in Wednesday's season opener against the Kings. It's unclear when he will be ready to return to the lineup. O'Connor contributed two assists, 13 shots on goal an
- Trent MinerGInjured ReserveUndisclosed · ir-nr
- Georgii MerkulovCInjured ReserveUndisclosed · It wasn't immediately clear when Merkulov was injured or how long he is expected to be on the shelf for. The 25-year-old will probably suit up for AHL Colorado once he's given the green light to appear in a
Where the offence comes from
Share of Avalanche 5-on-5 expected goals by how the possession started, 2025-26 (82 games, 204.6 xG).
- Above the league share
- Below
From our possession chains: transition is a chain won in the defensive or neutral zone; forecheck is an offensive-zone takeaway, forced giveaway or hit.
- Forecheck xG/600.378 · 3rd of 32(2025-26)
- Team xGF%57.8% · 1st of 32(2025-26)
- Team CF%56.7% · 2nd of 32(2025-26)
5-on-5, regular season. Forecheck xG/60 is the expected goals created straight off offensive-zone hits, takeaways and forced giveaways.
NHL Edge ranks (2026-27)
Puck and player tracking from NHL Edge. Bars are league rank (longer is better).
See how the Avalanche rank in every stat → Corsi, xG, transition, special teams, goalies, luck, schedule and tracking, each against all 32 teams.
Avalanche news
- Avalanche's Taylor Makar: On AHL club's opening rosterCBS Sports
- Nathan MacKinnon Gave Us A Little Mike Tyson And More On Opening NightYahoo Sports
- Nathan MacKinnon Fight Highlights Avalanche's Wild 8-4 WinYahoo Sports
- Nathan MacKinnon absolutely works over Brandt Clarke in his first fight in 4 yearsYahoo Sports
- Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon Reveals What Sparked Fight Against LA Kings PlayerYahoo Sports
- Nathan MacKinnon uses 'a little Muay Thai' as Avalanche superstar scores and punches out the KingsThe New York Times
Headlines via LineupExperts. Links open the original publisher.