Avalanche at Panthers

AVALANCHE (1-2-0) at PANTHERS (3-0-0)

Avalanche projected lineup
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Andre Burakovsky -- Nazem Kadri -- J.T. Compher
Darren Helm -- Tyson Jost -- Logan O'Connor
Sampo Ranta -- Mikhail Maltsev -- Martin Kaut
Samuel Girard -- Cale Makar
Bowen Byram -- Erik Johnson
Jack Johnson -- Ryan Murray
Jonas Johansson
Darcy Kuemper
Scratched: Jayson Megna, Kurtis MacDermid
Injured: Stefan Matteau (lower body), Pavel Francouz (ankle), Valeri Nichushkin (upper body), Devon Toews (shoulder)
Panthers projected lineup
Carter Verhaeghe -- Aleksander Barkov -- Anthony Duclair
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Sam Bennett -- Owen Tippett
Sam Reinhart -- Anton Lundell -- Patric Hornqvist
Frank Vatrano -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Mason Marchment
MacKenzie Weegar -- Aaron Ekblad
Gustav Forsling -- Radko Gudas
Kevin Connauton -- Brandon Montour
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight
Scratched: Ryan Lomberg, Joe Thornton
Injured: Markus Nutivaara (undisclosed), Olli Juolevi (undisclosed)
Status report
Landeskog will return after serving a two-game suspension for cross-checking Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach on Oct. 13. … Toews, a defenseman who has yet to play this season, skated in a red (non-contact) jersey during morning skate. … The Avalanche will go back to a conventional lineup after using 11 forwards and seven defensemen in their 6-3 loss at the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. … The Panthers placed Juolevi, a defenseman, on injured reserve Wednesday. … Luostarinen will play for the first time this season and be the center on the fourth line in place of Thornton.