For preseason game number four, the Colorado Avalanche have expanded their roster a little more than last week’s bare-bones offering. It was the preseason debut for Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar, hoping to show some more grit in front of the home crowd in their final preseason game at Ball Arena.

It was a fast start for the home side, with the Avalanche cashing in on the power play early when Jere Innala got on the board at 3:57, assisted by Makar and MacKinnon. That was unfortunately the highlight of this game for Colorado as they gave up six unanswered goals to the non-NHL side Vegas and lost the game in a 6-1 final score after being outshot 37-28.

There wasn’t much positive to take from the match other than Nikolai Kovalenko fitting in well on the top line with Rantanen and MacKinnon as he generated chances and kept up with their pace of play. Kovalenko was also awarded three minor penalties, which culminated in a penalty shootout for both teams.

Soon after the game, the Avalanche announced their biggest cut yet, sending 10 players to Colorado Eagles camp, including three who will have to clear waivers the next day.

This was a necessary cut to get players into AHL camp and for the Avalanche to begin seriously shaping their real roster. It’s a shame that Jean-Luc Foudy had to go, but him being on the phone with Jason Megna tonight didn’t lead to a great future at this point. There could have been an argument that Jere Innala and Jason Polin were still in the mix to oust one of the candidates, especially after Innala’s goal tonight, but now there is some welcome clarity as to who remains.

Those left out of the regular Avalanche players include prospects Calum Ritchie, Nikolai Kovalenko and perhaps the biggest surprise Ivan Ivan. On the veterans side, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare continues his tryout and for some reason TJ Tynan has yet to play a game. Parker Kelly and Joel Kiviranta could be on the roster, but there isn’t much reason to believe that at this point. Adam Scheel is likely the only minor league goaltender left, in case they don’t want Justus Annunen or Alexandar Georgiev on the bench.

There are currently 30 players left on the official roster, which still includes the injured Gabe Landeskog, Ondrej Pavel and apparently now that Chris Wagner is also in trouble. Those three plus the still-suspended Valeri Nichushkin and the aforementioned Scheel are five easy eliminations for next Monday’s opening night rosters. That means the Avalanche will have to downsize from 25 to most likely 22 as they try to create room for fewer than the maximum 23 players.

Upcoming are the final two games of the preseason, starting with the rematch in Vegas on Thursday, October 3 at 8:00 PM on NHL Network.