The Avs hope Valeri Nichushkin could play as soon as Wednesday, the first game of the homestand, against New Jersey. That would be the healthiest the team has been all year, with just defenseman Josh Manson missing from a Landeskog-less optimal lineup.

Ryan Lindgren was a staple of the New York Rangers’ top defensive pair last year. They went on to win the President’s Trophy and got two wins away from the Stanley Cup Final.

“I liked our first 15 minutes probably and then it just disappeared,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said ... “Our competitive effort is just not quite there,” Avs defenseman Cale Makar said. “They were better in every aspect, for the most part.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar knows his talented trio will be fighting fatigue ... Nichushkin hasn’t played since Dec. 31. Canada's Cale Makar (8) tries to clear the puck away from Finland's Joel Armia (40) during the second period of a 4 Nations Face ...

Nathan MacKinnon won another award on Thursday, earning Most Valuable Player at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He led the tournament with four goals and scored in Team Canada’s 3-2 overtime win against Team USA in the final. The Avalanche will try to bounce back when they face the New Jersey Devils at home on Wednesday.

The Avalanche dropped their first two games after the 4 Nations Face-Off, and Cale Makar knows his team isn't sending the right message to Colorado's brass with the trade deadline less than two weeks away.

The Colorado Avalanche trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews had ... Colorado coach Jared Bednar knows his talented trio will be fighting fatigue this weekend in a back-to-back ...

The Colorado Avalanche trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews had ... Colorado coach Jared Bednar knows his talented trio will be fighting fatigue this weekend in a back-to-back ...

The Colorado Avalanche trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews had ... Colorado coach Jared Bednar knows his talented trio will be fighting fatigue this weekend in a back-to-back ...