Avs fans will get a preseason treat with two key players back on the ice

The Avalanche will wrap up the preseason tonight against the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena.

And if there was ever going to be a “dress rehearsal” game for the Avs, this could be it.

Both Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin were spotted at morning skate in the correct jerseys, meaning they’re likely to make their preseason debuts this evening.

Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin are skating in top PP colors, so it appears they'll make their preseason debuts. J.T. Compher and Darren Helm are in red non-contact jerseys.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) October 5, 2022

This is good news for the Avs, as it will be fun for fans to see Mackinnon for the first time since signing his massive new contract. It also mean Nichuskin’s ugly foot injury is healing up nicely and he should be ready for the regular season.

Other stars Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen skated in the team’s game on Monday night in Dallas. Artturi Lehkonen, Erik Johnson, Devon Toews and Josh Manson also all played. Basically, the Avs are good to go, except for captain Gabriel Landeskog. He’s expected to miss the start of the regular season with a lower-body injury. That’s almost certainly tied to his knee surgery last season before gutting out the Stanley Cup run.

And another championship run is what the Avs will look to do. They’re the favorites to repeat as Cup champions, but another grind is about to begin. That starts a week from tonight, with the Chicago Blackhawks at Ball Arena for Game 1 of the real deal.

***