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Does no AM skate = win? Landeskog kept off ice again

November 29, 2016, 4:57 PM ET [46 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Avalanche had their usual pregame video session Tuesday morning but didn't go on the ice (except for Nathan MacKinnon, Semyon Varlamov and coach Jared Bednar) after two intense practices Sunday and Monday.

"We're having trouble scoring the first goal, and it's kind of plagued us a little bit," Bednar said. "Too many games with slow starts, so let's get some real good work done (at the two practices) and you can take the morning off. Maybe they come fresh and energized tonight."

The Avalanche have scored first six times and been outscored 22-9 in the first period. They're 0-1-1 in the first two games of a five-game homestand and 4-5-1 at Pepsi Center.

"It should be the place where we dominate, and it hasn't been that way yet," Matt Duchene said. "Mental errors at the wrong time are killing us. We have to try and stay a little more focused for the whole 60 (minutes), know the time of game, manage the game the right way, stay on our toes and push teams."

Erik Johnson didn't practice Monday because of illness and was told to stay home Tuesday to rest, but he's expected to play against Nashville at the Pepsi Center. Calvin Pickard gets the start.

Gabriel Landeskog (lower body injury) hasn't skated since Friday.

"We have to wait and see every day how he feels, and start progressing him as he feels better," Bednar said. "If he doesn't feel better, then we're leaving him out. It's too early in the season and it's something we don't want to play with. He's not 100 percent, so he's basically on his own timetable with the trainers. They let me know if he's good to go and how much we can push him on the ice and when we can take him out there."


*****

The Avalanche on Monday acquired defenseman Cody Goloubef from Columbus for defenseman Ryan Stanton in an exchange of minor leaguers.

Goloubef, 26, was assigned to AHL San Antonio. He had two goals and five assists in 16 games this season with Cleveland, which Bednar coached to the AHL championship last year when they were called Lake Erie. Stanton, 27, had one goal and three assists in 15 games with the Rampage.

Goloubef, who is 6-1 and 201 pounds, had one goal and seven assists in an NHL career-high 43 games last season with the Blue Jackets. He has 2-16-18 in 96 career NHL games, all with Columbus.

“He was a real good American League player for us through his development years and got recalled and spent the last couple years in Columbus,” Bednar said. “I know of him more as an American League player. He kind of does a little bit of everything. He’s a good skater, can play power play, penalty kill. Was an all-star in the American League when they only picked six guys to play.

“So he’s a top-end player at that level and he’s had some moments at the NHL level where he’s a real good player as well. Things haven’t worked out for him in Columbus. Right now he’s a veteran guy with a lot of experience who can go in and help San Antonio and is a real good depth option for us.”

*****

While the Avalanche have struggled at home, the Predators are 2-7-2 on the road, 1-3-1 there since a 5-1 win against the Avalanche on Nov. 1.

"As a group, we have to commit to playing a certain type of game on the road for the whole game, and that's kind of what's been killing us a little bit," forward Mike Fisher said. "It's one of those things where you say, 'Man, are we that bad on the road?' We've been solid at home for a long time. It's a different game on the road, but it's not that different."

The Predators are 8-3-2 in November since a 2-5-1 start. Goalie Pekka Rinne is 8-1-2 in his past 11 starts with a shutout, 1.35 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.

The Avalanche lineup:

FORWARDS
Mikko Rantanen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Rene Bourque
Mikhail Grigorenko -- Carl Soderberg -- Matt Duchene
Blake Comeau -- John Mitchell -- Jarome Iginla
Cody McLeod -- Joe Colborne -- Andreas Martinsen

DEFENSE
Fedor Tyutin -- Erik Johnson
Patrick Wiercioch -- Tyson Barrie
Nikita Zadorov -- Francois Beauchemin

GOALIES
Calvin Pickard
Semyon Varlamov



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