Colorado Avalanche Revealed A Fan Favourite Will Be Returning To The Lineup Tonight After Dealing With Injury
Photo credit: Sportsnet
The Colorado Avalanche are expected to get a fan favourite back into their lineup tonight after it was revealed that forward Joel Kiviranta will return to the Avalanche lineup after being sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Kiviranta has missed the Avalanche's last three games with a lower-body injury, and the team has gone 1-1-1 in that stretch, but he will be officially returning tonight after an announcement confirmed it.
Kivi is 🔙 in the lineup!
Read more about his incredible season so far
Read more about his incredible season so far
Before the 2024-25 season, Kiviranta has not scored more then eight goal in an entire season, and he has crushed career highs in goals (16), assists (7), points (23), and games played (72).
«Obviously it's been a good year this year,» Kiviranta said about his career year. «Being able to stay healthy and play [on] the same line with very good players.»
Kiviranta has spent most of the year on a line with Parker Kelly and logan O'Connor, but has also been on a new line which has been solid for the Avalanche of Ross Colton and Charlie Coyle.
Parker Kelly spoke out on what makes Kiviranta such an important player to the organization.
«Every game, he's always playing hard on both sides of the puck,» Kelly said. «And he's obviously finishing this year, so it's been a great year for him.»
Since the NHL trade deadline, Kiviranta has been on a line with Coyle and Colton, scoring nine goals, and in that time the Avs are 7-1-1.
Kivirantas teammates speak highly on him
«He's been awesome,» Colton said. «And I think, credit to him, he's put in a ton of work and just seeing him get rewarded is always nice.
«But I think it's just his play even away from the puck when we're not scoring, he's doing a great job in the d-zone. He's great on the penalty kill, and I feel like we're just not spending a lot of time in the d-zone, which is leading to offense and I think that's why we're having a lot of success.»
«But I think it's just his play even away from the puck when we're not scoring, he's doing a great job in the d-zone. He's great on the penalty kill, and I feel like we're just not spending a lot of time in the d-zone, which is leading to offense and I think that's why we're having a lot of success.»
Jared Bednar has stated that it doesn't matter where he plays in the lineup, he has been a steady addition to the roster this year.
«I feel like [Kiviranta's] game started at a really high level this year,» Bednar said. «[It] kind of picked up where it left off [from] last year's playoffs and second half of the year, and he's been there all year.
«So that leads to more scoring opportunities, he's putting the puck in the net more, but I do think it's nothing special. I think it's just him getting to a high level and staying there. He's been one of our most consistent players all year.»
«So that leads to more scoring opportunities, he's putting the puck in the net more, but I do think it's nothing special. I think it's just him getting to a high level and staying there. He's been one of our most consistent players all year.»
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 2 | 45 ANSWERS Colorado Avalanche Revealed A Fan Favourite Will Be Returning To The Lineup Tonight After Dealing With Injury Do you think Kiviranta is an important part of the Colorado Avalanche's roster? | ||
| Yes | 41 | 91.1 % |
| No | 4 | 8.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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