NHL reschedules nine West Division games as Avalanche get set to return

Members of the Colorado Avalanche surround left wing Gabriel Landeskog after he scored the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Denver. (David Zalubowski / AP)

The NHL has announced that nine games have been rescheduled, one day before the Colorado Avalanche return from a COVID-19 related pause.

The Avalanche, who suspended play last week and postponed three games after three players entered COVID-19 protocols, will return to action Thursday in St. Louis against the Blues.

The Avalanche returned to practice on Wednesday and head coach Jared Bednar met with the media afterwards to provide an update on his roster. Bednar announced that Mikko Rantanen -- who was added to COVID-19 protocols on Tuesday -- is under contact tracing -- similar to Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander recently -- but could be available next week. Philip Grubauer, who was placed in protocol on April 14, will also need at least one more week in quarantine before he can return to the club while Bowen Byram, who was removed from protocols on Monday, will return to the lineup after some more practice time.

"He's not a two-week guy," Bednar said of Rantanen, according to NHL.com. "We're still waiting on tests and he has to keep going through tests for a few days here, can't travel, and hopefully he can join us for the latter part of this trip and next Wednesday. Not as bad as the other guys who have to do an automatic two weeks."

Below are the nine West Division games that the NHL rescheduled on Wednesday.

• Colorado at St. Louis, scheduled for April 20, is now scheduled for Monday, April 26.
• St. Louis at Minnesota, scheduled for April 26, is now scheduled for Thursday, April 29.
• St. Louis at Minnesota, scheduled for May 12, is now scheduled for Saturday, May 1.
• Colorado at Vegas, scheduled for April 26, is now scheduled for Monday, May 10.
• Los Angeles at Colorado, scheduled for April 16, is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 12.
• Minnesota at St. Louis, scheduled for April 30, is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 12.
• Vegas at San Jose, scheduled for May 10, is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 12.
• Los Angeles at Colorado, scheduled for April 18, is now scheduled for Thursday, May 13.
• Minnesota at St. Louis, scheduled for May 1, is now scheduled for Thursday, May 13.

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