Forwards Andre Burakovsky and Joonas Donskoi will switch spots among the forward groups, as Donskoi joins a line with Tyson Jost and Nazem Kadri. Burakovsky will begin the contest as the right wing to center J.T. Compher and left wing Matt Nieto. The other two line combinations are expected to remain the same.
Donskoi had two goals and three shots on net against the Flames in his Avalanche debut.
"I think you look at the game he had the other night, he deserves to be rewarded," said Colorado head coach Jared Bednar. "I think you go back to exhibition and similar lineups in exhibition, Jost with Donskoi was really good. Same thing with Burakovsky down a little bit.
"It will be fluid throughout the year, but I think Nieto and Compher can complement Burky's skill set. And I think adding another hard-working guy that is all over the puck to help Kadri and Jost, I think will be a good idea too so we will see how it plays out."
Philipp Grubauer will get the start in goal once again for the Avs after making 27 saves in the club's season-opening win against the Flames. Mark Barberio, Vladislav Kamenev and Colin Wilson will be healthy scratches for the second consecutive outing.
Below is the Avalanche's projected lineup. All forward combinations and defensive pairings are subject to change.
Forwards
92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
17 Tyson Jost - 91 Nazem Kadri - 95 Andre Burakovsky
83 Matt Nieto - 37 J.T. Compher - 72 Joonas Donskoi
13 Valeri Nichushkin - 41 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 11 Matt Calvert
Defensemen
49 Samuel Girard - 6 Erik Johnson
16 Nikita Zadorov - 8 Cale Makar
27 Ryan Graves - 20 Conor Timmins
Goaltenders
31 Philipp Grubauer
39 Pavel Francouz
Healthy Scratches: Mark Barberio, Vladislav Kamenev, Colin Wilson
Injury Report: Ian Cole (hip surgery)
