Avalanche Dominate Blues but Face Injury Concerns.

The Colorado Avalanche opened the new year with one of their most commanding performances of the season, overwhelming the St. Louis Blues in a 6–1 victory. Colorado controlled the game from the start, outshooting St. Louis 43–13 and setting a franchise record by scoring four goals within the first 4:39 of the opening period. Despite the lopsided win, the Avalanche are dealing with injury concerns involving forwards Gavin Brindley and Joel Kiviranta. Head coach Jared Bednar addressed the situation after Thursday’s practice, stating that both players are considered day-to-day. Bednar confirmed they will travel with the team on its upcoming three-game road trip along the East Coast, beginning Saturday in Carolina. He also noted that the organization may recall an additional forward for depth.

Brindley sustained an upper-body injury during the win over St. Louis. Bednar described the issue as a minor tweak. The rookie logged 11:50 of ice time on the fourth line before being seen entering the X-ray room following the game.

Kiviranta, meanwhile, was a late scratch prior to Wednesday’s matchup. He suffered a lower-body injury after crashing hard into the boards during Monday’s 5–2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings. The injury forced him to miss warm-ups, and Zakhar Bardakov took his place on the fourth line. Both Brindley and Kiviranta have dealt with injuries earlier in the season, adding to Colorado’s ongoing challenge of maintaining lineup health as the team pushes deeper into the 2025–26 campaign.