Avalanche at Ducks

AVALANCHE (25-8-3) at DUCKS (19-15-7)

Avalanche projected lineup
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Andre Burakovsky -- Nazem Kadri -- Logan O'Connor
Nicolas Aube-Kubel -- Alex Newhook -- J.T. Compher
Tyson Jost -- Mikhail Maltsev -- Kiefer Sherwood
Devon Toews -- Cale Makar
Jack Johnson -- Samuel Girard
Kurtis MacDermid -- Erik Johnson
Pavel Francouz
Darcy Kuemper
Scratched: Bowen Byram
Injured:Darren Helm (lower body), Jacob MacDonald (upper body), Stefan Matteau (lower body), Ryan Murray (upper body)
COVID-19 protocol:Valeri Nichushkin
Ducks projected lineup
Max Comtois -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Sam Carrick
Vinni Lettieri -- Trevor Zegras -- Rickard Rakell
Sam Steel -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jakob Silfverberg
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Derek Grant -- Buddy Robinson
Hampus Lindholm -- Jamie Drysdale
Jacob Larsson -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Brendan Guhle -- Greg Pateryn
Lukas Dostal
John Gibson
Scratched:Josh Mahura
Injured:Adam Henrique (lower body), Max Jones (upper body), Sonny Milano (upper body)
COVID-19 protocol:Troy Terry, Josh Manson, Anthony Stolarz, Cam Fowler, Simon Benoit
Status report
Kuemper (sore neck) participated in the morning skate and will back up Francouz as planned, coach Jared Bednar said. He is expected to start at the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. ... The Ducks did not have a morning skate. ... Gibson could start for the first time since Jan. 4 after missing five games while in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said Wednesday that he was planning to start Dostal, but would have another conversation with Gibson regarding his availability. "I'm smart enough to listen," Eakins said. ... Manson, a defenseman, entered protocol Tuesday. … Mahura, a defenseman, has recovered from a lower-body injury, but will miss his 13th straight game.