Matt Duchene will return to the lineup Monday when the Avalanche play Columbus in the finale of their three-game road trip.
Here are the
GAME NOTES.
With Duchene back after missing four games to recover from a concussion,
Joe Colborne will be scratched. He still hasn't scored a goal since a hat trick opening night.
Gabriel Landeskog remained in Colorado for treatment of his lower-body injury and will miss his third consecutive game. I hope to get an update on his status after the Avalanche arrive home, assuming they practice Tuesday.
Semyon Varlamov will be in goal. The Avalanche haven't won two games in a row since the first two games of the season.
Coach
Jared Bednar told reporters after the morning skate that Duchene would play wing on a line with
Carl Soderberg and
A.J. Greer. Nathan MacKinnon will center
Andreas Martinsen and
Mikko Rantanen.
"I feel good,” Duchene said. “I feel like myself. I’ve taken the time I needed to take to feel good. I’m feeling like I’m ready.”
The Blue Jackets will have a video tribute for defenseman
Fedor Tyutin, who signed with the Avalanche on July 1 after his contract was bought out. He played eight seasons with Columbus and is the franchise leader among defensemen for games (553), assists (146) and points (185).
The Blue Jackets (10-4-2) have won four games in a row, seven in a row at home. Defenseman
Seth Jones will play after missing six games with a fractured foot.
Columbus didn't have a morning skate, but that isn't only because it played Sunday in Washington, defeating the Capitals 3-2. Coach
John Tortorella has decided, at least for now, to skip morning skates.
Goalie
Sergei Bobrovsky is 8-1-0 in his past nine starts with two shutouts, a 2.06 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.
Avalanche projected lineup:
FORWARDS
Andreas Martinsen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
A.J. Greer -- Carl Soderberg -- Matt Duchene
Blake Comeau -- John Mitchell -- Jarome Iginla
Rene Bourque -- Mikhail Grigorenko -- Cody McLeod
DEFENSE
Fedor Tyutin -- Erik Johnson
Nikita Zadorov/Eric Gelinas -- Tyson Barrie
Francois Beauchemin -- Patrick Wiercioch
GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov
Calvin Pickard
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