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Roy: Wilson 'not ready' to play Tuesday

December 16, 2013, 3:29 PM ET [6 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT



There's been a change of plan for Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson, who won't make the trip for Tuesday night's game in Dallas after all.

One day after saying Wilson would probably play Tuesday, coach Patrick Roy has changed his mind.

"After skating with me, I feel that he is not ready," Roy said this morning of Wilson, who will miss his 18th consecutive game tonight because of a back injury when the Avalanche and Stars play at the Pepsi Center in the first of the home-and-home series. "We will wait a couple more games maybe. I just want to make sure it's the right time."

Wilson, who has four assists and a plus-2 rating in 10 games, has been practicing for a couple of weeks. He was activated from injured reserve on Saturday.

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Roy said a lack of confidence has been a major factor in the team's recent offensive woes. The Avalanche has scored 12 goals during a 2-3-1 slump and is 0-for-26 on power plays in the past 10 games.

"Put pucks at the net, simple things, and bear down on our chances," Roy said. "Right now we don't shoot with the confidence we should. All I'm asking is put pucks at the net and traffic. They have one of the best goalies (Kari Lehtonen) in the league and we're going to have to be good around the net if we want to score goals."

Lehtonen has an 8-3-2 record in 15 career games against the Avalanche with one shutout, a 2.52 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for the Avalanche. He's 3-3-2 in eight games against the Stars with a 3.43 average and .888 save percentage, but played well in the first two meetings. Varlamov made 39 saves Oct. 15 in a 3-2 home win and 27 saves Nov. 1 in a 3-2 overtime win in Dallas.

The Avalanche lineup for tonight:

FORWARDS
Ryan O'Reilly -- Matt Duchene -- Nathan MacKinnon
Gabriel Landeskog -- Paul Stastny -- PA Parenteau
Jamie McGinn -- John Mitchell -- Maxime Talbot
Cody McLeod -- Marc-Andre Cliche -- Patrick Bordeleau

DEFENSEMEN
Erik Johnson -- Jan Hejda
Andre Benoit -- Cory Sarich
Nate Guenin -- Tyson Barrie

GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov
Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Nick Holden, Brad Malone and Ryan Wilson are the scratches. Alex Tanguay remains out with knee and hip injuries.
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