Gabriel Landeskog returns to the lineup Thursday when the Avalanche play Tampa Bay to open a four-game road trip.
The Avalanche lost three of four games without their captain, who completed his four-game suspension Tuesday when Colorado fell 4-2 to Buffalo. They dropped the final three games of a five-game homestand, finishing it 1-4-0.
"I'm really excited to get back," Landeskog told reporters after the morning skate. "Any time you're sitting out it can be frustrating and it can be hard because you're not part of it. Win or lose, you want to be out there."
Here are the
GAME NOTES.
Now all they have to do is show some life and earn some points against the Lightning, Florida, Pittsburgh and Washington on this trip.
Landeskog should help, but the Avalanche need to get some production five-on-five -- six of the past 10 goals came on power plays. Half of the 10 came from
Nathan MacKinnon (three goals) and
Mikko Rantanen (two).
Coach
Jared Bednar is going with seven defensemen and 11 forwards against Tampa Bay with the return of
Patrik Nemeth, who has missed 12 games with a back injury.
He's also shuffling the defense pairings, moving
Nikita Zadorov up with
Erik Johnson, and putting
Samuel Girard with
Mark Barberio, who was scratched against the Sabres.
Nail Yakupov, who has gone six games without a point, will be a healthy scratch, along with
Gabriel Bourque and
Duncan Siemens.
Semyon Varlamov starts in goal.
Former Avalanche goalie
Peter Budaj will start for the Lightning.
The lineup:
FORWARDS
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Tyson Jost -- Alexander Kerfoot -- J.T. Compher
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Sven Andrighetto -- Colin Wilson
DEFENSE
Nikita Zadorov -- Erik Johnson
Patrik Nemeth -- Tyson Barrie
Samuel Girard -- Mark Barberio
Anton Lindholm
GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov
Jonathan Bernier
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
Join the Discussion:
»