Kiviranta scored a goal on three shots, added two PIM and logged two hits in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Sharks.
Kiviranta saw 13:19 of ice time in his return from a 17-game absence due to a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old winger's return bolsters the Avalanche's forward depth, though he's unlikely to see enough ice time in scoring situations to make a big impact in fantasy. The goal was his first point in six outings this season to go with six shots on net, 11 hits and a plus-2 rating.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Ready to roll
Rotowire
Head coach Jared Bednar noted Tuesday that Kiviranta (lower body) is good to go, per Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now.
Kiviranta is poised to return to the lineup at home Wednesday versus the Sharks after being sidelined for 17 consecutive games. The Finnish winger will slot into a bottom-six role and could see time on the penalty kill. Colorado's depth up front will get stronger with the return of Kiviranta, but he hasn't recorded a point over five appearances this season.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Skating Wednesday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) took the ice in a non-contact jersey Wednesday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
Kiviranta was ruled out indefinitely back in mid-October and is just getting back on the ice for the first time. As such, fantasy managers probably shouldn't be expecting him back in the short term, but at least he appears to be trending in the right direction. In five games before getting hurt, the Finn failed to register a point while recording three shots, nine hits and two blocks.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Out indefinitely
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) is out indefinitely, the team announced Saturday.
According to the NHL media site, Colorado moved Kiviranta to injured reserve Saturday. He hasn't earned a point in five appearances this season while posting three shots on goal, two blocked shots and nine hits. Kiviranta will probably be replaced in Saturday's lineup against Boston by Zakhar Bardakov.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Good to play Wednesday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) is set to draw back into the lineup Wednesday versus Chicago, according to Conor McGahey of Altitude TV.
Kiviranta last played March 25. He has 16 goals and 23 points in 72 appearances with the Avalanche in 2024-25. His return might result in Jimmy Vesey being a healthy scratch.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Available to play
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) will be an option for Wednesday's game against Chicago, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
Kiviranta might return to action after missing the last three games due to injury. He has produced 16 goals, 23 points, 77 shots on net and 103 hits in 72 appearances this season. If Kiviranta draws back into the lineup, Parker Kelly or Logan O'Connor could be a healthy scratch versus the Blackhawks.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Won't return against Calgary
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) won't play in Monday's game against the Flames, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
Kiviranta continues to deal with a lower-body injury, and he'll be sidelined for a third consecutive game Monday. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return, but his next chance to suit up will be Wednesday in Chicago.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Remains out Saturday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) isn't available Saturday versus St. Louis, per Ryan Boulding of NHL.com.
Kiviranta is set to miss his second straight game. He has 16 goals, 23 points, 103 hits and 34 blocks in 72 outings with the Avalanche in 2024-25. Kiviranta's next opportunity to return will come Monday versus Calgary.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Won't play Thursday
Rotowire
Kiviranta (lower body) won't be in the lineup against the Kings on Thursday, according to Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.
Kiviranta will miss at least one game, and his next chance to play will come versus St. Louis on Saturday. He has 16 goals, 23 points, 77 shots on net and 103 hits in 72 appearances this season. Miles Wood will replace Kiviranta in Thursday's lineup.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Four-game goal streak
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal in Tuesday's 2-1 shootout loss to Minnesota.
His goal came at the 14:20 mark of the third period when he tipped in a lofted backhand shot from Samuel Girard in the high slot. Kiviranta isn't really known for his offense, but he's on a four-game, four-goal streak, which brings him up to 15 goals (six assists) in 66 appearances this season. This run is lightning in the proverbial bottle for Kiviranta, but you can't ignore the heat. He may help you in the next couple of games if you're streaming.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Goal in each of last two games
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal in a 7-4 victory over the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Kiviranta drove the net at top speed late in the second, and Ross Colton's centering pass went off his skate and between Anthony Stolarz's pads. He has a goal in each of his last two games, but he had just one in the 26 outings before that. It's a nice run for Kiviranta, but that doesn't mean he's fantasy worthy.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Avoids scoreless month
Rotowire
Kiviranta logged an assist, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 5-2 win over the Wild.
Kiviranta had been held off the scoresheet for the first seven games of February before helping out on a Ross Colton tally in the second period. The 28-year-old Kiviranta is now at 17 points, 64 shots on net, 87 hits and a plus-8 rating through 61 appearances. He's already produced a career year and just needs to play in 10 more games to set a career high in that area as well. That said, he's also shooting 17.2 percent, so some regression was to be expected following his relatively strong first half of the campaign. Kiviranta is more of a physical depth forward and rarely needs to be considered in fantasy.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Finds twine in win
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Friday's 5-0 win over the Blues.
Kiviranta snapped a 16-game goal drought, which began Dec. 27 after he had a hat trick versus the Kraken on Dec. 22. The 28-year-old winger is not one to score consistently, so it's no surprise there was a long gap between goals. He's at 11 goals, 16 points, 60 shots on net, 79 hits, 14 PIM and a plus-5 rating across 53 appearances in what's already a career year for the Finn.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Manages assist in loss
Rotowire
Kiviranta notched an assist, two hits and a minus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.
Kiviranta has three helpers over 10 games since the holiday break. The 28-year-old had five goals across three contests leading into the break, and that uptick in production has earned him a larger role in the Avalanche's middle six as the team deals with some injuries at forward. Kiviranta is at 15 points, 54 shots on net, 73 hits and a plus-5 rating through 46 games this season. As long as he's on the second line, he's worth consideration in fantasy formats that reward his physical play.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Adds helper Thursday
Rotowire
Kiviranta notched an assist and went plus-2 in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Wild.
Kiviranta picked up his first point over five outings in January when he set up Parker Kelly's third-period tally. Expectations are higher for Kiviranta after his six-goal, eight-point December (13 contests). The 28-year-old has a total of 14 points, 54 shots on net, 67 hits and a plus-8 rating over 43 games this season, playing on the third pairing without a spot on the power play.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Helps out on empty-netter
Rotowire
Kiviranta logged an assist and four hits in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Jets.
Kiviranta earned his first assist since Dec. 8 versus the Devils. While he hasn't been playmaking lately, he has five goals over the last five games. The 28-year-old winger is up to 10 goals, three assists, 49 shots on net, 60 hits and a plus-8 rating through 38 appearances. He has primarily served in a third-line role this season, and while he's already earned a career year, his offense is likely to be limited.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Surprise hero in win
Rotowire
Kiviranta scored twice on three shots and added two hits in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Sharks.
Kiviranta notched his second two-goal game of the year, with his pair of goals coming in a span of 2:52 in the third period. That was the difference in the win. Kiviranta had produced just three points over his prior 22 appearances. The physical winger is at seven goals -- one shy of his career high -- while adding two assists, 40 shots on net, 54 hits, 10 PIM and a plus-4 rating in a bottom-six role over 34 outings this season.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Collects assist in win
Rotowire
Kiviranta recorded an assist in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Devils.
Kiviranta has a goal and an assist over four games in December after posting only one point in November. The 28-year-old remains in a third-line role, but he doesn't chip in much offense, instead making most of his impact through physical play. The winger has five goals, two assists, 32 shots on net, 48 hits and a plus-2 rating over 29 contests this season.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Chips in with assist
Rotowire
Kiviranta notched an assist, two hits, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Monday's 3-2 overtime win over the Predators.
Kiviranta snapped a seven-game drought when he assisted on a Mikko Rantanen tally in the second period. The 28-year-old Kiviranta continues to fill a second-line role, though his time in that spot could be nearing a close. The Avalanche's cavalry is coming, with Jonathan Drouin (upper body), Miles Wood (upper body) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) all possible to return by the end of this week. Kiviranta has five points, 21 shots on net, 28 hits and eight PIM across 16 appearances, and he should be able to hold onto a bottom-six role once the team is healthier at forward.
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Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Scores again Thursday
Rotowire
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.
