The Colorado Avalanche head into Toronto on Tuesday night to open a four-game road trip, and they’ll be trying to answer the Maple Leafs after that 6-3 loss at Ball Arena earlier this season.
The timing is a little different this time around. Toronto is carrying a three-game skid and has gone 5-5-0 over its last 10, while Colorado arrives after a shutout win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night. That victory stopped a short slump, though the Avalanche’s 5-4-1 record over their last 10 still leaves room for improvement.
Even so, the standings are tight enough to keep the focus sharp. Colorado is tied with the Dallas Stars for second in the Central Division with 22 points, and the Nashville Predators and Utah Mammoth are right behind with 21 each. It’s early, but the Avalanche are about to face a run of tough games, and they’ll want to create some breathing room between themselves and the teams chasing them.
The lineup doesn’t appear set for major changes, but one situation is worth watching closely: Cale Makar. Head coach Jared Bednar said Makar’s exit from Sunday’s practice was only precautionary, and that the Norris Trophy winner would travel with the team.
"[Cale] went off for precautionary reasons, and then we'll just see how we presents tomorrow... he'll travel"
Jared Bednar provided an update on Makar, and had plenty more to say after a looooong practice today for the Avs pic.twitter.com/2NDK7V2uXR
- Jesse Montano (@jessemontano) November 8, 2026
That still leaves his status for Tuesday night up in the air. The Avalanche added a little more intrigue on Monday by recalling Alex Gagne from the Eagles, though that move appears to be more about depth for the road trip than anything else.
If Makar is unable to play against Toronto, Gagne could be in line for his NHL debut. The 24-year-old has posted two goals in 14 games with the Eagles this season and has carved out a dependable role there after being selected in the sixth round.
In goal, MacKenzie Blackwood should get the start in Toronto after recording his first shutout of the season. He’ll likely get the first crack at carrying that momentum into the trip.
And while Tuesday points to Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood should also see action before the week is out. The Avalanche are playing every other day, with Ottawa on Thursday and Montreal on Saturday. The trip wraps up on November 18 in Utah, so it would make sense to see Blackwood in Toronto and Thursday, then Wedgewood against the Canadiens, giving Colorado’s top goalie roughly six days between starts.
In Other News...
Cale Makar Just Gave The Avalanche A New Reason To Worry
Cale Makars exit from Avalanche practice with an apparent lower-body injury was enough to send a jolt through a team already trying to manage a tricky stretch. Colorado has been dealing with roster challenges tied to other injuries and cap constraints, so even a precautionary issue with its top defenseman lands with extra weight. The coach framed the move as cautious, with more evaluation to come before the next game.
For a club built around Makars impact at both ends of the ice, any uncertainty around his status immediately changes the conversation. The Avalanche do not have much margin for error in the lineup right now, which is why even a brief scare at practice becomes a storyline worth watching closely as game time approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Mackenzie Blackwood Is Already Writing A Special Avalanche Story
Mackenzie Blackwood keeps adding to what is becoming one of the more intriguing goalie chapters in recent Avalanche history. In the 4-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings, he picked up his seventh shutout in Colorado, tying him for sixth on the franchises all-time list and reinforcing how quickly he has settled into a prominent role in Denver. His season line, a 9-3-1 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage, reflects a starter who has given the Avalanche a chance to win most nights while also delivering those game-flipping blank sheets.
What makes the story feel a little different is the personal layer underneath it. Blackwood has said he takes pride in representing the Avalanche, the team he grew up supporting, and that connection gives his run here a little extra weight beyond the numbers. He has already put together multiple notable shutout streaks in an Avalanche sweater, and with his name now climbing a franchise list that includes some familiar goaltending company, this early stretch is starting to look less like a hot start and more like the beginning of something memorable. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Tough Lehkonen Decision Before It Gets Harder
Artturi Lehkonen has become one of those Avalanche players whose value is easy to see and harder to keep. If Colorado decides his next contract would be too expensive to fit into the future, the front office could be forced into a difficult choice before the offseason even arrives, especially with a player who brings the kind of two-way reliability contenders tend to covet.
The market could make that decision even trickier. Chicago is reportedly looking for offensive help and might be willing to part with high draft picks for a player like Lehkonen, but there are no confirmed talks or deals between the clubs right now. Any potential move would also have to navigate Lehkonen's no-trade clause, which gives Colorado another layer to consider as it weighs whether to hold on or cash in. [Read more 🡒]