The Avalanche open the second half of the season by closing out what has been yet another poor homestand Tuesday when Chicago visits the Pepsi Center.

Here are the GAME NOTES.

While the Avalanche (13-27-1) are wallowing in last place in the NHL, the Blackhawks (27-14-5) are second in the Central Division, having lost two games in a row; they have yet to drop three in a row in regulation.

Losing two straight is a big deal for coach Joel Quenneville, who has shaken up some line combinations, most notably separating Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.

Richard Panik will replace Hossa, who's gone nine games without a goal, on Toews line. Towes has one goal in his past eight games and just seven for the season. Hossa will skate with Vinnie Hinostroza and Tanner Kero.

"You have to get the message," Toews said after the Hawks spent 40 minutes on the ice Tuesday morning. "When you have two games like we just did, we want to bounce back and find that energy and excitement."

Said Quenneville: "Certainly we're going to need some different kind of guys producing for us offensively, not just up front; our back end could help generate more offense for us."

The Avalanche had their usual pregame meeting in the morning, but only a few players took part in an optional skate.

"We had an opportunity to practice for two good days, so we're trying in the second half to make sure we're getting a lot of work done in practice and giving them the option in the morning and making sure they're doing what they feel they need to do to get ready for the game," coach Jared Bednar said.

The Avalanche are 1-2-0 in the first three games of the homestand and 1-11-1 in the past 13 games at home.

The only lineup change from Saturday: John Mitchell will return to the fourth line after being a healthy scratch two games in a row. Andreas Martinsen will sit.

The Avalanche lineup:

FORWARDS
Mikko Rantanen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Rene Bourque
Gabriel Landeskog -- Matt Duchene -- Matt Nieto
Blake Comeau -- Carl Soderberg -- Jarome Iginla
Mikhail Grigorenko -- John Mitchell -- Joe Colborne

DEFENSEMEN
Fedor Tyutin -- Tyson Barrie
Nikita Zadorov -- Cody Goloubef
Francois Beauchemin - Eric Gelinas

GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov
Calvin Pickard



Follow @RickS7

Join the Discussion: » 86 Comments » Post New Comment

» One-year deal for Johansson

» One more postseason disappointment

» Bednar cleared to coach tonight; MacKinnon Hart finalist

» Cale Makar a Norris Trophy finalist

» Jost: Do or die Game 5 tonight; Kadri suspension upheld