For the fourth preseason game, the Colorado Avalanche has increased its roster slightly more than last week’s basic offerings. It was the preseason debut for Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar, hoping to show some more pizzazz in front of their home crowd in their final preseason game at Ball Arena.

It was a quick start for the home team as the Avalanche took advantage of the power play early as Jere Innala got on the board with help from Makar and MacKinnon at 3:57. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of this game for Colorado, as they gave up six unanswered goals against Vegas’ non-NHL squad and lost the game 6-1 after a 37-28 outshot.

There wasn’t much positive to take from the game other than Nikolai Kovalenko fit well in the top line with Rantanen and MacKinnon as he created chances and kept up with their pace of play. Kovalenko also converted three minor penalties, leading to a shootout for both teams.

Shortly after the contest, the Avalanche announced their largest cut ever, sending 10 players to Colorado Eagles camp, including three who must clear waivers the next day.

This was a necessary cut to get players into AHL camp and for the Avalanche to seriously begin to take shape on their actual roster. It’s a shame that Jean-Luc Foudy had to go, but the fact that he was on the same line as Jason Megna tonight didn’t suggest much of a future at this point. It could have been argued that Jere Innala and Jason Polin were still in the squad to oust one of the candidates, especially after Innala’s goal tonight, but there is now welcome clarity as to who remains.

Those who have stuck around beyond the regular Avalanche players include young prospects Calum Ritchie, Nikolai Kovalenko and perhaps the biggest surprise, Ivan Ivan. On the veteran side, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare continues his trial and for some reason TJ Tynan has to play in another game. One might assume Parker Kelly and Joel Kiviranta are in the roster bubble, but there’s not much reason to believe that at this point. Adam Scheel is the only minor league goaltender still on the roster, presumably just in case neither Justus Annunen nor Alexandar Georgiev are scheduled to sit on the bench.

There are currently 30 players in the official squad, which also includes the injured Gabe Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, Ondrej Pavel and apparently also Chris Wagner, who is now injured. Those four, plus the still-suspended Valeri Nichushkin and the aforementioned Scheel, are six easy eliminations when opening night lineups roll out next Monday. That means the Avalanche will only have to cut from 24 to most likely 22 players as they try to make room for less than the 23 maximum.

Two final preseason games are on the way, starting with the rematch in Vegas on Thursday, October 3, at 8 p.m. on NHL Network.