Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper, who took the morning skate and was expected to be the starter, was scratched with an upper-body injury.
Jonas Johansson started for the Avalanche in the 8-3 loss. Goalie Justus Annunen was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League and became the backup at the start of the second period.
Colorado trailed 3-0 in the first period. After getting within 3-2 in the second, it allowed five straight goals to trail 8-2 in the third. Johansson made 33 saves.
The Avalanche play at the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
"I don't have a sense of how severe Kuemper's injury is," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said postgame. "I only found out after the morning skate. I expect Kuemper to stay on the trip and continue to be evaluated over the next couple of days. I'll meet with [general manager Joe Sakic] and our staff before we decide who starts against Montreal."
Goalie Michael Hutchinson was the backup to Jack Campbell for the Maple Leafs.
Hutchinson was recalled late in the afternoon from Toronto of the AHL and took the place of Joseph Woll, who has been with the Maple Leafs since Nov. 6.
"[Woll] came in today stiff from practice yesterday to the point where [the medical staff] weren't comfortable allowing him to skate," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We'll see how he is after a day off today and Thursday. It's minor."
Hutchinson was 0-1-0 with a 4.57 GAA and an .857 save percentage in two games with the Maple Leafs this season. Woll was 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA, .939 save percentage and one shutout.
Alexander is 0-1-0 with a 5.10 GAA and an .878 save percentage with the University of Toronto this season.
The Maple Leafs used University of Toronto goalie Alexander Bishop as the backup to Campbell when they defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Oct. 16.
Bishop was needed because the Maple Leafs were unable to recall a goalie from the AHL due to NHL salary cap constraints. Goalie Petr Mrazek sustained a groin injury in a 3-2 loss at Ottawa two days before.
The last time an emergency backup goalie was used in an NHL game was Feb. 22, 2020, also at Scotiabank Arena, when David Ayres made seven saves in 28:41 for the Carolina Hurricanes after Mrazek and James Reimer each sustained an injury during the game. Ayres earned the win with the Hurricanes defeating the Maple Leafs 6-3.
