The Colorado Avalanche faced a tough setback on their road trip, suffering a 3-1 defeat against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. The Avalanche, who had hopes of gaining ground in the Central Division standings, were unable to capitalize on their opportunities despite dominating much of the game. Petr Mrazek's 36-save performance proved pivotal for the Blackhawks, helping them secure an upset victory.

Trent Miner, making his NHL debut in goal for Colorado, stopped 17 of 20 shots but couldn't hold off Chicago's attack. Juuso Parssinen opened the scoring for the Avalanche, but after a series of defensive lapses, Chicago rallied to take control. Connor Bedard, last year's Calder Trophy winner, sealed the game with a goal in the third period, while the Avalanche were left lamenting missed opportunities.

Jonathan Drouin's challenging season takes another hit as he will miss the Colorado Avalanche's upcoming game against the Chicago Blackhawks, marking the 33rd game he has been sidelined this season. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expressed optimism about Drouin's possible return for the following night’s matchup against the Minnesota Wild, emphasizing that Drouin's upper-body injury does not require management and poses no risk of worsening.

Drouin has struggled with this injury since the season opener, seeing intermittent returns for a total of nine games, where he has netted three goals and eight points. His last return included a dramatic game-tying goal in a comeback victory against the Buffalo Sabres. Meanwhile, rookie goaltender Trent Miner is set to make his NHL debut, becoming the Avalanche’s sixth goalie to start this season due to Scott Wedgewood's foot injury.

Scott Wedgewood's situation has taken a positive turn as he was spotted at the Colorado Avalanche facility in flip-flops, indicating some improvement after leaving the previous game in a walking boot. Coach Jared Bednar stated that while there is no definitive timeline for Wedgewood's return, he is expected to miss several games. The team is hopeful that his injury isn't a high-ankle sprain which could sideline him for up to six weeks.

Wedgewood sustained the injury during a game against the Buffalo Sabres, where he fell awkwardly and was unable to put weight on his leg as he left the ice. Despite the initial concern, he appeared in better condition during practice. The Avalanche have recalled Trent Miner, who is set to make his first NHL start next week as the team faces back-to-back games on the road against Chicago and Minnesota.

Miner, who had a brief debut against Washington, will join Mackenzie Blackwood in the crease, who has been performing well since joining the team. Wedgewood's recent stats show a solid performance with a 4-2 record and a .917 save percentage, while Blackwood boasts a 6-1 record with a .932 save percentage. The Avalanche will need to rely on Blackwood's consistency as they navigate Wedgewood's absence.

The Colorado Avalanche is set to field its healthiest lineup of the season, with the return of key forwards Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood, along with Valeri Nichushkin making his season debut after a lengthy suspension.

However, starting goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, leading to Justus Annunen starting against the Washington Capitals. Georgiev's recent performance had shown improvement, but his absence raises concerns for the team.