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    Colleen Flynn
    Colleen Flynn
    Dec 5, 2023, 21:54

    Colorado faces Anaheim for the teams' final matchup this season but will have a couple of crucial players missing from the lineup.

    Colorado faces Anaheim for the teams' final matchup this season but will have a couple of crucial players missing from the lineup.

    Head coach Jared Bednar said Cale Makar is "doubtful" to play against the Anaheim Ducks — whom the team lost to just three days ago in a shootout at Honda Center. Makar did not play the few remaining minutes of regulation in that game or overtime. 

    The 25-year-old defenseman was on the ice for the morning skate but is dealing with a lower-body injury, according to Bednar. 

    Andrew Cogliano will miss the game with a lower-body injury, as well. Valeri Nichushkin wasn't present at morning skate, but Bednar said he was under the weather and expects him to be ok to play. 

    The club called up Sam Malinski on Thursday last week, who will most likely slot in with Bowen Byram on the defense as he did against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.

    Oskar Olausson was recalled from the Colorado Eagles Tuesday morning and will likely slide into Cogliano's spot on the fourth line.   

    Projected lineup

    Valeri Nichushkin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
    Jonathan Drouin — Ryan Johansen — Tomas Tatar
    Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Logan O’Connor
    Oskar Olausson — Fredrik Olofsson — Joel Kiviranta

    Devon Toews — Josh Manson
    Bowen Byram — Sam Malinski
    Jack Johnson — Caleb Jones

    Alexandar Georgiev
    Ivan Prosvetov

    This is the final matchup between the teams for the season. Prosvetov got the loss on Saturday against the Ducks, but Georgiev started at Ball Arena in the Avs' dominating 8-2 win on Nov. 15.