Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Ross Colton and Miles Wood will play against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night after missing practice on Saturday.
“Colts (Colton) got dinged up in the middle of that game (vs Utah Hockey Club on Oct. 24) so trying to give him some time to heal, try to get him ready for tomorrow night,” Bednar said after practice on Saturday. “Woody (Wood) kind of the same thing. He got dinged up in the game as well so day off’s probably better suited for them to get ready for tomorrow. Both those guys likely try it in the morning and then we’ll get information if they can go.”
Colton has been a key producer for the team on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. He said the duo make it “easy” for him — which has shown on the scoresheets and stats. The 28-year-old has eight points in eight games and has played both center and wing in the last few.
The Avalanche dodged a potential injury bullet which has been an issue for the team for the last two seasons. Artturi Lehkonen has not returned from offseason shoulder surgery yet but is expected to be back in the lineup soon. He has been skating with the team since the season started and is scheduled for an evaluation on Tuesday. If cleared, he should be ready to go.
Jonathan Drouin suffered an upper-body injury in the first game of the season and has recently been skating with the team in a red non-contact jersey. Bednar said on Sunday that he is closer to returning and is now considered day-today.
