The Avalanche will play their first game without Nathan MacKinnon when they face Columbus on Saturday in the first of a back-to-back road set that ends Sunday in Minnesota.
MacKinnon will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot.
Also, center Joey Hishon sustained a neck injury in a collision in practice Friday and is doubtful. Freddie Hamilton, who was acquired Monday from San Jose for defenseman Karl Stollery, was recalled from Lake Erie in the AHL and will play on the fourth line if Hishon can't go.
Here are the game notes.
Hamilton, 23, is 6-feet-1, 195 pounds and the older brother of Boston's Dougie Hamilton. He was the Sharks' fifth-round pick (129th overall) in 2010. He had no points in 12 career games with the Sharks. He had nine goals, 21 assists in and 12 penalty minutes in 52 games this season with Worcester in the AHL and one assist in one game with Lake Erie.
Coach Patrick Roy said Friday he would put Cody McLeod in MacKinnon's spot on the team's top line with Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O'Reilly, though I have to think that's subject to change at some point.
Hishon played 8:05 against Pittsburgh on Wednesday in his regular-season NHL debut. He showed good speed and forechecked well. He had two shots on goal, two hits and lost three of four faceoffs.
Here's the Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Cody McLeod Jordan Caron - Matt Duchene - Jarome Iginla Alex Tanguay - John Mitchell - Dennis Everberg Marc-Andre Cliche - Freddie Hamilton/Joey Hishon - Daniel Briere
DEFENSE Jan Hejda - Zach Redmond Nate Guenin - Tyson Barrie Brad Stuart - Nick Holden
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Reto Berra