Defenseman
Samuel Girard might play Friday when the Avalanche try to avoid elimination when they play Nashville in Game 5 of the first-round series at Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The
GAME NOTES.
Coach
Jared Bednar said Friday that Girard will be a game-time decision. He missed the past three games with an upper-body injury he sustained in Game 1.
Girard skated while wearing a regular jersey in the morning after skating the previous two days with a non-contact jersey.
His presence would help a power play that has gone 2-for-18 in the series.
Gabriel Landeskog has both goals, and they came during 5-on-3 situations. Bednar said
Mark Barberio would likely quarterback the second power-play unit if Girard doesn’t play.
Andrew Hammond, who stopped all eight shots he faced in the third period Wednesday, will start in goal with
Jonathan Bernier out because of a lower-body injury.
Spencer Martin will be the backup. Bernier allowed three goals on 26 shots through two periods in the Avalanche’s 3-2 loss at the Pepsi Center.
Predators forward
Ryan Hartman will serve a one-game suspension for his hit against
Carl Soderberg’s head in the third period Wednesday. The NHL Department of Player Safety handed him the suspension following a hearing on Thursday. Hart was assessed a charging penalty on the play.
The Avalanche lineup:
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Tyson Jost -- Alexander Kerfoot -- Sven Andrighetto
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Colin Wilson -- J.T. Compher -- Gabriel Bourque
Nikita Zadorov -- Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth – Mark Barberio
Samuel Girard/Duncan Siemens – Girard/David Warsofsky
Andrew Hammond
Spencer Martin
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