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Avs Hit Home Ice For The First Time This Pre-Season; Roster Cuts Begin

September 30, 2021, 5:34 PM ET [5 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
We are more than a week into the Colorado Avalanches 2021-22 training camp and all is well - so far.

The Avs are gearing up for their second preseason game. They played Vegas tough in the first game despite icing a mostly AHL lineup; while the Golden Knights skated a grip of its regulars. Colorado fell 4-3 in the game and won the shootout at the end of the game 2-1 with both goals coming from kiddos Oskar Olausson and Shane Bowers.

Colorado knows what they have as far as NHL talent but it's very promising to see what they have cooking in the pipeline.

Pavel Francouz was a bright spot considering he is still working his way back from major hip surgery. He will be heavily relied upon to get this team over the proverbial hump.

Tonight they faceoff versus the revamped Minnesota Wild. It's always a good time when these two squads square up - preseason or not.



The expected lineup for the Avs:

Forwards:


Gabriel Landeskog, Dylan Sikaru, Nazem Kadri, JT Compher, Sampo Ranta, Alex Newhook, Mikhal Maltsev, Oskar Olausson, Martin Kaut, Andreas Wingeri, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyson Jost

Defense:

Sam Girard, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Kurtis MacDermid, Dennis Gilbert, Jacob MacDonald

Goalies:

Darcy Kuemper, Justus Annunen

It's the first time we'll see Kuemper between the pipes for Colorado. The Avs gave up a lot for his services and it's officially time to put up or shut up. I personally expect a phenomenal season from the 31-year-old.

PTO hopeful Jack Johnson draws back into the lineup for a second straight game. Johnson is working his tail off to revive his career in Colorado. This is a good sign for him.

The Wild want to bounce back from a loss of their own. They melted down in the third period of their first game versus the Blues and lost 6-2.

Pre-season or not hockey is fun and this game should be too.

...

Before I forget... best wishes to Avs color analyst Peter McNab. The 69-year-old announced he has been diagnosed with cancer. He will continue working this season while fighting the disease. I wish him all the best and a quick recovery.

...

The Avs reduced its roster to 47 by sending RW Alex Beaucage, LW Dalton Smith, RW Nick Henry
and goalie Trent Miner to AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles.

When the cuts begin you know it's getting real.

Thanks for reading,
Steve
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