The Colorado Avalanche (1-4-0) march into the SAP Center tonight without the team still having a chip on their shoulders. The Avs solved that problem Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks, giving the team its first two points of the season. The San Jose Sharks (0-3-2) now have two points, but still no win.

The Avs have a star-studded roster, which is why many experts believe the team will struggle to start the season. There's a lot of money tied up in players who aren't playing now but might do so soon. That leaves the Avs unable to get help until those players arrive.

One of these players is Valeri Nichushkin, who does not yet play in the team, but skates on the ice. He still participates in the NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program.

UPDATE: Kaapo Kahkonen has arrived in Denver and will practice with the team today.

Valeri Nichushkin has also arrived in Denver and will begin training and skating on his own. He remains in Phase 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program.

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 19, 2024

It is not yet known when Gabriel Landeskog will be ready to play. The striker has been on long-term injured reserve for more than a full season. While he skates, it's a slow process. Then there's Artturi Lehkonen, who underwent shoulder surgery. There is also no timetable for his return. Combined, that's more than $17 million in salary per season.

While Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon did their best to hold the fort, the team is not getting the goaltending support it needs. Alexandar Georgiev is 1-3-0 with a 4.99 goals against average and an .811 save percentage. Backup Justus Annunen is 0-1-0 with a 4.69 goals against average and a .765 save percentage.

To add some safety in net, the Avs claimed Kaapo Kahkonen off the waiver wire. He joined the team yesterday and could be ready to play soon. That being said, the Avalanche could also explore a trade. Elliotte Friedman said on his “32 Thoughts” podcast Friday that Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood could be the most likely target for the Avs.

The San Jose Sharks take on the Avalanche

The Sharks seem to be slow to handle the return of Macklin Celebrini, so I doubt he plays tonight. I'm assuming Will Smith and William Eklund are both back, but I can't be sure. I'm assuming these are the rows we saw in Chicago, with Will Smith in the third row and Danil Gushchin and Givani Smith sitting. It's not my ideal, but it's the most likely scenario.

If we continue like this, it will be Vitek Vanecek's turn

Forward
William Eklund – Mikael Granlund – Tyler Toffoli
Klim Kostin – Alex Wennberg – Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow – Will Smith – Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Ty Dellandrea

defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun-Matt Benning

goalkeeper
Vitek Vanecek
Mackenzie Blackwood

Colorado Avalanche lines for October 20, 2024

As for the Avs, Daily Faceoff reported the lines on Oct. 18. We will guess them

Forward
Ross Colton – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Nikolai Kovalenko – Casey Mittelstadt – Logan O'Connor
Miles Wood – Parker Kelly – Calum Ritchie
Ivan Ivan – Matthew Stienburg – Joel Kiviranta

defense
John Ludvig – Cale Makar
Samuel Girard-Josh Mason
Calvin de Haan – Sam Malinski

goalkeeper
Alexandra Georgiev
Justus Annunen

Here's how to watch Avalanche at Sharks tonight

Puck Drop takes place tonight at 5:00 PM PT/6:00 PM MT at the SAP Center. Sharks fans can watch the game on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.

If you are an Avalanche fan, you can watch the game on Altitude TV or listen on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.

The game should be available to out-of-market viewers on ESPN+.

If you're enjoying the game at home, join us here where fans will be talking about what's happening on and off the ice in the comments.