The Avalanche are back. Well, kind of.
Already missing 4 Nations Face-Off finalists Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews, the Avs were also without Artturi Lehkonen, Logan O’Connor, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson in their first practice since the break.
They skated with three forward lines and defense pairings, which included a duo of AHL blueliners Jacob MacDonald and Wyatt Aamodt filling in for the absent skaters.
Both O’Connor and Girard had maintenance days. Lehkonen landed in Denver earlier in the day and was given the day off after participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Canadian trio will meet the Avs in Nashville on Friday.
Scott Wedgewood, who missed the last four games before the break, is back and healthy.
Valeri Nichushkin’s Status Uncertain
The biggest takeaway from practice — or at least one of two giant takeaways — is the status of Valeri Nichushkin.
He hasn’t played since Dec. 31 in what, at the time, was called a day-to-day injury. Here we are nearly two months later, and his status is yet to be determined.
Nichushkin was one of the first on the ice and skated by himself before practice began. He was then joined by the team before eventually shifting to his own sheet of ice with skills coach Toby Petersen.
Will Nichushkin play this weekend?
“I don’t know which game. If he’ll be back for Nashville, St. Louis, or if it’ll be New Jersey. I don’t have the answer to that just yet,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “We’ll find out a little bit more after we see him the next few days.”
As usual, missing Nichushkin for any amount of time will sting. The Avs have yet to see what their top left-wing option looks like on the same line as Martin Necas. Nichushkin has been out since well before the blockbuster deal almost a month ago.
The game referenced against the Devils is the first of a six-game homestand. Nichushkin will not travel during this weekend’s back-to-back road trip unless he has a chance of playing.
Josh Manson Is Not Ready
This one is confirmed. Manson will not be ready coming out of the break as he’s still dealing with the same injury that kept him out the last games before the break.
“It’s been a couple of weeks now, so hopefully he’s getting close to getting back on the ice,” Bednar said.
Manson has had a tough season on the injury front. He’s missed 14 games so far and has played a lot of games at less than 100 percent.
Practice Lines:
Drouin — Mittelstadt — Necas
Wood – Drury – Colton
Kiviranta – Kelly – Parssinen
de Haan – Kylington
Middleton – Malinski
Aamodt – MacDonald
Blackwood
Wedgewood
