All four injured Avalanche players, including captain Gabriel Landeskog, are traveling with the team on its four-game road trip through California this week, coach Jared Bednar said.
Landeskog (knee), forward Artturi Lehkonen (finger), defenseman Josh Manson (lower body) and backup goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) have all been skating individually recently, though they’re all progressing at different rates. When asked if there’s a chance that any of them play during the California road swing, Bednar said, “We’ll see.” He deflected when asked who is closest to a return.
Landeskog still seems to be a ways off, judging by his recent skating sessions. The captain has made progress since he first got back on the ice Feb. 21, but he’s still mostly doing individual work and slowly starting to test his leg more during stop-start exercises with skills coach Shawn Allard. The Avalanche have no expected timeline for Landeskog’s return.
Francouz has not played since Feb. 7, in Colorado’s first game back from the NHL All-Star break. He has taken big strides in the past week, joining the Avs for morning skate Saturday and taking shots for a few minutes before leaving the ice.
Manson hasn’t skated with the team yet since his injury and Lehkonen (in a red jersey) is starting to work with a stick again. He broke his finger March 13 in Montreal and underwent surgery two days later, putting him on a four- to six-week timeline.
The Avs (45-24-6) start the trip with consecutive matchups with the Sharks and an off-day in San Jose between the games Tuesday (8:30 p.m. MT) and Thursday (8:30 p.m.).
“It’ll be fantastic. I personally feel like, coming out of the COVID (season), we should have kept a little bit of that,” Bednar said. “Less taxing on the players. Even if it’s back-to-backs, you’re in the same hotel. Both teams are in the same situation. We play, what, 12 back-to-backs a year? And it’s against a different opponent that seems to be rested and waiting on you all the time.”
Will Bednar change Avalanche’s shootout lineup?
The division race is winding down with Colorado, Minnesota and Dallas all within one point of the Central crown. Seven games remain for the Avalanche and six for the other two teams.
So if any of the last seven require a shootout with a crucial second point on the line, shootout personnel and order will be important. Evan Rodrigues has been the Avs’ leadoff man since December, but he has been unsuccessful on five consecutive shootout attempts. He started the season 2 for 2.
Bednar said he’s unsure about whether he would change the order or stick with Rodrigues first if the situation arises again. “Depends on the night, who we’re playing,” he said. “(Assistant coaches) Ray (Bennett) and Jussi (Parkkila) pre-scout the goalies, too. There’s certain goalies that we feel like certain shooters and their moves can work. Sometimes you want a different look and a different player doing something. Shootouts are tough. It’s not easy to score in a shootout. So some guys go through it. But if they have a move or two we like against a specific goalie, we can go to them.”
Mikko Rantanen, who has alternated between the second and third spot in the order, is also on an 0-for-5 drought after starting 2 for 2. Nathan MacKinnon is the other common shootout selection. He’s 2 for 6. The Avs are 6-3 in shootouts this season.
Dawg Nation founder a finalist for award
Marty Richardson of Littleton is a finalist for the NHL’s Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, the league announced Monday. Richardson is the founder of Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, a Colorado nonprofit that raises funds for hockey families in need.
The award is named after O’Ree, who broke the NHL’s color barrier in 1958, and honors an individual who “has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society.” Three U.S. finalists and three Canadian finalists were named this year, and one winner will be voted on from each country (with an online fan vote factoring in). The U.S. winner will be announced June 26 at the NHL Awards and will receive a $25,000 prize.
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