Colorado's lines will be shaken up again as Valeri Nichushkin is expected out but Bowen Byram, Cale Makar and Andrew Cogliano will return to the lineup.
Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram took a hard hit in the 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday but is good to go against the Winnipeg Jets.
"I just got hit pretty hard — I don't know how to say it — just had some issues in my chest area," Byram told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn after morning skate. "My head was totally fine, that wasn't part of the issue."
Although Nathan MacKinnon did not participate in morning skate, head coach Jared Bednar said he will play in Thursday night's game. Andrew Cogliano will return as well. He is also keeping Sam Malinski in the lineup as he's been impressed with his play.
"He's been doing some good things on both sides of the puck. He looks really calm and poised," Bednar said. "He's executing well out of the D-Zone, in the neutral zone, offensive zone, chipping in a little bit. I'd like to see that part of his game even ramp up a little more to trust his instincts but it's starting to come."
Valeri Nichushkin remains out of the lineup due to illness, according to Bednar. That will shift the lines again for the matchup against the Jets. Mikko Rantanen will likely shift down to the second line. The top line will remain the same as last game with Jonathan Drouin and Logan O'Connor with MacKinnon.
Rantanen played with Oskar Olausson last game, which was the 21-year-old's second NHL game.
"I think he's going to be really good player for us at some point," Rantanen said. "I remember when I was younger, it was nice if veteran guys came to talk before the game and get some hints so I try to do that."
Rantanen said it can take a game or two to get used to new linemates but it's easier when it's players he's played with before, unlike Olausson. The young forward was sent back to the Colorado Eagles so it's projected that Rantanen will be with Ross Colton at center and Miles Wood on the left wing.
"It's obviously (an) adjustment but it's good," Rantanen said. "We do it quite a bit here — switching lines and stuff."
Projected lines
Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Logan O'Connor
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Mikko Rantanen
Tomas Tatar — Ryan Johansen — Joel Kiviranta
Andrew Cogliano — Fredrik Olofsson — Kurtis MacDermid
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Bowen Byram — Josh Manson
Jack Johnson — Sam Malinksi
Alexandar Georgiev
Ivan Prosvetov
This is the first matchup of three between the teams and MacKinnon is looking to extend his home point streak to 12.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. for the second of the next five games at home in Ball Arena.