More line changes are in store for the Avalanche when they play the New York Islanders tonight at the Pepsi Center.
First, here are the
game notes.
Looking to take some of the pressure off the top two lines and in an attempt to spread the scoring around, coach
Patrick Roy will go with the following units:
Gabriel Landeskog - Matt Duchene - Ryan O'Reilly
Jamie McGinn - Nathan MacKinnon - Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay - John Mitchell - Dennis Everberg
Cody McLeod - Marc-Andre Cliche - Maxime Talbot
With Everberg up from Lake Erie in the AHL, where he had two goals and an assist in five games,
Daniel Briere will be a healthy scratch.
Nate Guenin is going back on defense after sitting out four games, replacing
Zach Redmond. Here are the pairings:
Jan Hejda - Erik Johnson
Nate Guenin - Tyson Barrie
Brad Stuart - Nick Holden
Semyon Varlamov will make his fourth consecutive start. He's 1-0-2 since returning from a groin injury and is coming off that 49-save effort Tuesday in the Avalanche's 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose. Varlamov has stopped 101 of 108 shots, a .935 save percentage, in the past three games.
Jesse Winchester was back wearing a red non-contact jersey at the morning skate, not a good sign. Roy said Wednesday that Winchester, who is recovering from a concussion, has "good days and bad days."
The Avalanche obviously have to start playing better defense in front of Varlamov, but the forwards have been part of the problem, too. How about doing a little backchecking and hanging onto pucks every once in a while?
That will be crucial against an Islanders team that averages 32 shots and 3.8 goals per game, though they also allow 30.3 shots and 3.4 goals. The Avalanche average 30.2 shots but only 2.2 goals while permitting 35.8 shots and 3.1 goals.
Chad Johnson will start in goal for New York as
Jaroslav Halak is struggling with a 3.51 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
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MacKinnon said he isn't worried about having gone the first 10 games of the season without a goal.
"I think I'm playing pretty solid," said MacKinnon, who has four assists and 28 shots on goal. "I had some chances last game. Everybody has a next level to bring here, which is exciting. I feel like everybody is motivated to play a little bit better and obviously I'm definitely a part of that group.
"Hopefully things change tonight. The worst thing I can do is worry every night. It's a long season and we have lots of games left. Hopefully when one comes the net gets a little bigger. I don't want to change my game, I'm feeling good."
Roy said MacKinnon might be putting too much pressure on himself to live up to lofty expectations.
"He was compared to
(Sidney) Crosby, he was the next Crosby, the next this and that," Roy said. "I guess those are big skates to fill. I think he went through different stages where he was a bit frustrated because he didn't score early on. Now he's getting on top of the hill. I think he was more positive last game, he enjoyed the game, he was skating, he had chances."
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I recommend you check out "Save by Roy", which chronicles the Avalanche's surprising 2013-14 season. It's on
amazon.com now and will be available everywhere books are sold Nov. 5. It's written by
Denver Post sports reporters
Adrian Dater and
Terry Frei. Give it a look.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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