The Colorado Avalanche (10-6-2) open a three-game road trip in the Atlantic Division against the Toronto Maple Leafs (8-9-2). Puck drop is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. MT.

Key Stories to Watch

• Cale Makar is ready to go tonight for the Avalanche. The superstar defenseman left practice early on Sunday and head coach Jared Bednar said it was precautionary. The Avs called up rookie blueliner Alex Gagne to be the seventh defenseman for the road trip, and it sounds like Gagne will have to wait a little longer to make his NHL debut,

• The Avalanche are coming off their first shutout of the season, a 4-0 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings at Ball Arena. The top power-play unit scored three times on five tries, with all three of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Makar getting the goals.

• Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are amid a tough skid. Through the first three games of their six-game homestand, the Leafs are 0-3-0 and were shut out 4-0 by the New Jersey Devils in their last outing. Toronto already defeated Colorado 6-3 at Ball Arena last month.

• Injuries have been a major concern for the Leafs as of late. They are missing Kirill Marchenko, Morgan Rielly, Nick Blankenburg, Marshall Rifai, and Colton Sissons. Chris Tanev was load-managed on Saturday but will return. As will Jack Roslovic, who was a late scratch because of an injury. The Leafs recalled Ryan Tverberg to play on the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander.

• Sergei Bobrovsky was excellent in Denver in the first meeting and will get the start again for Toronto. Colorado is going with Mackenzie Blackwood, who will make his 14th start in 19 games to start the year. Blackwood’s save percentage climbed over .900 for the first time all season after stopping all 27 shots he faced on Saturday. Blackwood’s 9 wins are tied for third in the NHL.

Season Series

• Oct. 10 vs Toronto Maple Leafs (L, 6-3)

• Nov. 10 at Toronto Maple Leafs

Avalanche Injuries

• Zachary L’Heureux (upper body, long-term)

• Josh Manson (ankle, eight weeks)

Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas Gabriel Landeskog — Nazem Kadri — Nicolas RoyJaden Schwartz — Brock Nelson — T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly — Fedor Svechkov — Logan O’Connor

Brett Kulak — Cale Makar Devon Toews — Sam Malinski Noah Juulsen — Brent Burns

Projected Starters (Subject to Change)

• Expected: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)

• Confirmed: Sergei Bobrovsky (TOR)

Upcoming Milestones

• Sam Malinski — needs 2 games for 200

• Brent Burns — needs 3 games for 1,600

• Nicolas Roy — needs 4 points for 200

• Parker Kelly — needs 4 points for 100

• Scott Wedgewood — needs 6 wins for 100

How to Watch

• TV: Altitude TV