NHL On Tap: Cogliano, Lehkonen to debut for Avalanche

Welcome to the NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the four games Wednesday.

First look at new-look Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche (45-13-5) are set to debut two new additions when they host the Vancouver Canucks (30-26-8) on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNP, TVAS, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Colorado acquired forwards Andrew Cogliano from the San Jose Sharks and Artturi Lehkonen from the Montreal Canadiens before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, after acquiring defenseman Josh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks and forward Nico Sturm from the Minnesota Wild last week. The Avalanche didn't land center Claude Giroux, who had a no-movement clause in his contract and chose to leave the Philadelphia Flyers for the Florida Panthers. Still, the Avalanche added depth for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this will be our first look at the new look. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Giordano to make Maple Leafs debut

Mark Giordano will play his first game with the Toronto Maple Leafs when they host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Toronto acquired the 38-year-old defenseman in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. Giordano was paired with Timothy Liljegren in practice Tuesday and quarterbacking Toronto's second power-play unit. Giordano is from Toronto, so to make his Maple Leafs debut at home is a big deal. Colin Blackwell is also expected to play his first game with the Maple Leafs (39-18-5). The forward came to Toronto from Seattle with Giordano in the same trade. He was on a line with Jason Spezza and Wayne Simmonds in practice Tuesday. The Devils (23-35-5) are coming off a 7-4 win against the New York Rangers on Tuesday, when forward Jack Hughes scored two goals to give him 21 this season. It's the first time in Hughes' three NHL seasons he has scored at least 20 goals. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Blackhawks move forward without Fleury

It wasn't a surprise that Marc-Andre Fleury was traded before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. Still, it's going to be different not seeing the goalie, who was traded to the Minnesota Wild for a conditional first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, when the Blackhawks visit the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; TNT, NHL LIVE). Fleury was 19-21-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 45 games for the Blackhawks and was a big presence on and off the ice. His departure means more opportunity for Kevin Lankinen, who is 3-8-4 with a 3.51 GAA and .889 save percentage in 17 games (15 starts) and will start for the Blackhawks (22-32-9) on Wednesday. The Ducks (27-27-11) are expected to have forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon in the lineup. They were acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Rickard Rakell on Monday. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Wednesday games

New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Devils have lost six straight road games and are 8-21-2 away from Prudential Center this season. Forward William Nylander has a six-game point streak (two goals, six assists) for the Maple Leafs, who've won two of their past three.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NHL LIVE)
Pittsburgh (39-16-9) has won three in a row and five of six after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 on Tuesday, when Rickard Rakell made his Penguins debut and played 14:08. The forward was acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. The Sabres (22-33-8) have won four of five, playing the role of spoiler by defeating the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights.
Vancouver Canucks at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNP, TVAS, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Colorado is coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday and has won four in a row. Vancouver begins a four-game road trip after it was 2-3-2 on a seven-game homestand.
Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; TNT, NHL LIVE)
The Blackhawks can sweep the season series against the Ducks after a 3-0 win Jan. 15 and an 8-3 victory March 8, each in Chicago. Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) against the Ducks this season. Anaheim defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will play his 800th NHL game.