Colorado faces off against Chicago for the second time in five days but this matchup may have a different look.
Colorado faces off against Chicago for the second time in five days but this matchup may have a different look.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said defenseman Josh Manson is doubtful against the Chicago Blackhawks and Caleb Jones may be in the lineup.
The young defenseman has only played 20 games this season, but not due to a lack of effort. Bednar said his defense core has been consistent which is why he has not changed it up.
It will be the first time the 26-year-old will face off against his older brother, Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones.
"He's going to be excited regardless whether he's playing against his brother or not. I think it's something he's been working hard in practice and staying prepared," Bednar said after morning skate. "He's a good pro, good teammate. So I mean, little added extra kick playing against his brother trying to grab some bragging rights is also a good thing."
The elder 29-year-old Jones said he's excited to play against his sibling in their first NHL matchup but it will be a heightened competition for them. The two played together in Chicago from 2021-23, which Seth said was a memorable experience.
"It was awesome being around him every day ... we spent a lot of time together and he lived up a little bit more north so we didn't live together in Chicago — but seeing him every day, being around him, seeing his habits and things like that and helping each other out mentally in (a) not so great time in Chicago at the moment," Seth said about his brother Caleb. "So it was just awesome to be around him and I'm happy for him that he came here and he's got a chance to kind of play in the playoffs hopefully and win a Cup."
Seth said their parents will be in attendance for the game. The eldest Jones, Popeye, is the assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets.
Projected lineup
Bednar confirmed Justus Annunen will start in net and Valeri Nichushkin will not play. The young Finnish goaltender earned his first NHL shutout against the Blackhawks on Thursday.
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Logan O'Connor
Zach Parise — Ryan Johansen — Jonathan Drouin
Andrew Cogliano — Chris Wagner — Joel Kiviranta
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Bowen Byram
Jack Johnson — Caleb Jones
Justus Annunen
Alexandar Georgiev
The puck drops at 7 p.m. in the final showdown between the teams. The Avs posted two shutout wins against the Hawks and lost by one in Chicago on Dec. 19.
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