The Avalanche play in Nashville on Thursday, a quick one-game trip before returning home to face Buffalo at the Pepsi Center on Saturday.
Here are the
GAME NOTES.
Not a whole lot going on following
Erik Johnson's announcement on Wednesday that he is planning to make his long-awaited return to the lineup Saturday against the Sabres, assuming there are no setbacks between now and then.
Jeremy Smith will start in goal even though
Calvin Pickard has had four consecutive solid games but only one win to show for it, last Friday's 2-1 overtime win at Carolina. Pickard has allowed eight goals -- seven in regulation -- in this stretch, but the Avalanche have totaled five goals, four in regulation.
Meanwhile,
Jarome Iginla continues to play the waiting game. Will the Avalanche find a trading partner for him before the March 1 deadline?
"Yeah, I think about it," he said. "I think most guys probably do when there's uncertainty. It's coming quick. From my point of view, it's nice to play games, just focus on games, enjoy that part, enjoy competing. There's a lot of unknowns. I'm not sure what's going to happen. It will come quick enough."
Iginla, who has seven goals -- four on power plays -- and nine assists in 58 games, has made it known he'd like to be moved to a contender for what could be his final chance at that elusive Stanley Cup.
Iginla is in the final year of a three-year, $16 million contract. He won't be back with the Avalanche and this could very well be his last NHL season.
I hope he gets his wish. You won't find a nicer, classier person anywhere.
The Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Matt Nieto
Mikko Rantanen -- Matt Duchene -- Blake Comeau
Mikhail Grigorenko -- John Mitchell -- Jarome Iginla
Andreas Martinsen -- Carl Soderberg -- Joe Colborne
DEFENSE
Fedor Tyutin -- Tyson Barrie
Francois Beauchemin -- Mark Barberio
Patrick Wiercioch -- Cody Goloubef
GOALIES
Jeremy Smith
Calvin Pickard
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