Sam Malinski Set To Miss Again As Avalanche Stay Shorthanded

Sam Malinski is expected to miss a second straight game, leaving the Avalanche to keep juggling the blue line. When a defenseman stays out, the ripple effect usually shows up in pairings, minutes, and the kind of cleanup work coaches hate having to explain. Colorado has enough firepower to survive a lot, but every missing piece makes the margin thinner than it looks.