Kiviranta scored a goal, added two hits and blocked two shots in Thursday's 5-1 win over Utah.
Kiviranta has scored all four of his goals this season over his last three games. He's now halfway to matching his career high for goals in a year, which he set over 70 regular-season appearances with the Stars in 2022-23. The winger has seen an increased role lately, including 17:00 of ice time Thursday, as the Avalanche contend with numerous injuries to wingers. Kiviranta adds steady hits (13 through eight contests), but he often doesn't do enough to make an impact in fantasy.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Pots two in win
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored two even-strength goals in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Chicago.
Kiviranta started the scoring in the opening frame before redirecting a Cale Makar shot into the back of the net to give Colorado a one-goal lead in the second period. Kiviranta added four shots, two PIM, one block and a plus-2 rating in 14:51 of ice time. The Finnish forward has three markers in his last two games, but he's yet to register an assist this season. Kiviranta is filling a fourth-line role and serving as a penalty killer.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Lights lamp Sunday
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal, added three hits and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Sharks.
Kiviranta's third-period goal was his first point in six games this season. The 28-year-old winger has remained in a bottom-six role even as injuries have quickly piled up among the Avalanche's forwards. He's added 11 hits, three shots on net and an even plus-minus rating. Physical play is Kiviranta's biggest area, but he's not even much of a factor there with a career high of 117 hits back in 2022-23 with Dallas. Fantasy managers won't need to track his progress this season.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Pens two-way deal
Rotowire
Kiviranta inked a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado on Monday.
In his first season with the Avalanche, Kiviranta played in 56 regular-season contests, recording three goals, six assists and 78 hits. The 28-year-old winger's lack of offensive upside likely factored into the team's decision to only offer him a two-way deal. While Kiviranta should make the Opening Night roster, he is far from a lock as evidenced by his contract, and he's unlikely to see much more than bottom-six minutes when he plays.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Scores against former team
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal on three shots, added three hits and logged two PIM in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Stars in Game 2.
Kiviranta returned from a three-game absence due to a lower-body injury. His goal sparked the Avalanche's comeback attempt in the third period, but the comeback fell short. The winger has two points, six shots on net, 12 hits and a plus-3 rating through four playoff appearances. He continues to occupy a bottom-six role, so his scoring contributions are likely to remain sparse.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Returns Thursday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) is expected to play in Thursday's Game 2 against Dallas, per Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now.
Kiviranta missed the previous three contests because of the injury. He has an assist in three playoff outings this year and finished the regular season with three goals and nine points in 56 appearances. Kiviranta is set to play on the third line alongside Miles Wood and Ross Colton in Game 2. Chris Wagner will be a healthy scratch due to Kiviranta's return.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Game-time call Thursday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) will be a game-time decision for Thursday's Game 2 against Dallas, according to Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Gazette.
Kiviranta has missed the Avalanche's past three contests due to the injury. He had three goals and nine points in 56 regular-season outings. Kiviranta has also registered an assist in three playoff appearances this year.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Set to miss Game 1
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) won't play Tuesday in Game 1 versus Dallas, according to Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now.
Kiviranta will miss his third straight contest. He wore a non-contact jersey during Colorado's morning skate before the start of the second round. He picked up one assist, nine hits and three shots on goal in three outings versus Winnipeg during the opening round of the postseason.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Not ready to play
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) will not be an option against the Jets in Game 5 on Tuesday, per NHL.com.
Kiviranta did make the trip with the team to Winnipeg, so he appears to be getting close to returning. In his three postseason contests, the 28-year-old winger has registered one assist, three shots and nine hits while averaging 10:14 of ice time. Even once given the all-clear, Kiviranta is far from a lock for the lineup but should be in the mix for a bottom-six role.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Traveling with team
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) will make the trip to Winnipeg ahead of Tuesday's Game 5 versus the Jets, Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports reports.
Kiviranta missed Sunday's Game 4 win over the Jets due to a lower-body issue, but it appears he could be available for Game 5. The 28-year-old winger has picked up one helper and a plus-2 rating through three playoff games this year.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Dealing with minor injury
Rotowire
Kiviranta missed Sunday's Game 4 win over Winnipeg due to a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Kiviranta should be considered questionable for Game 5 on Tuesday. He has one assist while averaging 10:14 of ice time through three appearances this series.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Absent from warmups
Rotowire
Kiviranta (undisclosed) did not take the ice for warmups and is out Sunday for Game 4 against Winnipeg, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Kiviranta left Friday's game multiple times with the injury. While he was able to return, the winger will ultimately be held out Sunday in Game 4. The 28-year-old Kiviranta had an assist through three games in the series after tallying three goals and nine points in 56 regular-season contests. Newly recalled Nikolai Kovalenko could make his NHL debut while Kiviranta is sidelined.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Chips in with helper
Rotowire
Kiviranta posted an assist and two hits in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Jets in Game 1.
Kiviranta played just four of the Avalanche's last 15 regular-season games, and he went seven contests without a point prior to Sunday. The 28-year-old is likely to occupy a bottom-six role during the playoffs. He had nine points, 78 hits and 48 shots on net over 56 regular-season appearances.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Headed for healthy scratch
Rotowire
Kiviranta (illness) is expected to be a healthy scratch against Columbus on Monday, per NHL.com.
Kiviranta had missed two games due to illness but wasn't playing regularly prior to getting sick. The 28-year-old winger's last outing came March 13 against Vancouver -- a game in which he logged 13:01 of ice time while notching one shot on goal, one hit and two PIM. Without a clear path to more minutes, Kiviranta is a non-factor in fantasy down the stretch.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Unavailable against Predators
Rotowire
Kiviranta (illness) won't be in the lineup Saturday against Nashville, according to Ryan Boulding of NHL.com.
Kiviranta will sit out for the second straight contest. He was a healthy scratch for five consecutive games before getting sick, so he may not return to the lineup once he's available. Kiviranta has nine points, 47 shots on goal and 71 hits in 52 appearances this campaign.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Won't play Thursday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (illness) will not be in the lineup against the Rangers on Thursday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Kiviranta will have to wait at least one more game before getting a shot to secure his 10th point of the season. In fact, with just three more goals, the 28-year-old winger could top the personal best he set back in 2020-21 (11). Even once cleared to play, Kiviranta is far from a lock for the lineup and may have to watch from the press box periodically.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Under the weather
Rotowire
Kiviranta missed practice Wednesday due to an illness ahead of Thursday's clash with the Rangers, Brennan Vogt of The-Rink.com reports.
Kiviranta hasn't played for the Avs since March 13 versus Vancouver, a stretch of five games, so his illness is unlikely to impact the lineup. The fact the winger has notched just one goal in his last 39 appearances while adding just three helpers means few fantasy players will notice his absence if he's unable to go.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Posts assist in win
Rotowire
Kiviranta had an assist, two shots on net and one block in Wednesday's 7-2 win over Detroit.
Kiviranta gained control of the puck behind the net and fed Jean-Luc Foudy, who scored his first NHL goal. The assist snapped a 16-game point drought for Kiviranta, who has nine points through 49 games. Colorado will add Casey Mittelstadt to the lineup as early as Friday versus Minnesota, while Valeri Nichushkin (personal) and Logan O'Connor (lower body) could be ready to return for that contest, too. That potential influx of three skaters could impact Kiviranta's spot in the lineup.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Scores in Tuesday's win
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Stars.
The Stars were on the board one minute into the game, but Kiviranta provided a quick response. The goal snapped a 12-game point drought for the 27-year-old winger, who hadn't scored since Dec. 7. He's at three tallies, eight points, 41 shots on net, 63 hits and a minus-1 rating through 45 appearances. Despite the lack of offense, Kiviranta has seen steady fourth-line minutes, though he may be at risk of losing his place once Valeri Nichushkin (personal) is cleared to play by the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Logs assist in win
Rotowire
Kiviranta had an assist, two shots, one block and one hit over 12:03 of ice time in Saturday's 7-4 win over Philadelphia.
As the third line's shift was ending, Kiviranta picked up the secondary assist on a tally by Nathan MacKinnon, who had just come off the bench to replace Ryan Johansen. Other than that, it was not a good day for the line, which was on ice for three of the Flyers' four goals. Kiviranta's spot on the active roster could be in jeopardy when Artturi Lehkonen (neck) returns, which could occur Wednesday against the Capitals.
