Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Martin starts; Duchene (ill) is out

January 23, 2017, 4:02 PM ET [41 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Spencer Martin will start again for the Avalanche when they play San Jose at the Pepsi Center on Monday to begin a two-game homestand, the last two games before the NHL All-Star break.

Here are the GAME NOTES.

Martin made 27 saves Saturday in his NHL debut, a 3-2 overtime loss in San Jose.

"He made some big saves for us and the goals that went in came from deflections in front of the net," coach Jared Bednar said after an optional morning skate. "Let's see if he can repeat that last performance."

Martin won't have the family and friends fan club that he had Saturday; they left for their Toronto area homes after the game.

"It was an awesome experience to play against a really good team in my first game and getting to play the same team again is going to be the same experience," Martin said. "The nerves will probably be a little bit less, but I still like to keep my energy level and intensity at the same peak. I think it will be more fun with a lot more Avalanche fans, and I really look forward to that."

Bednar said that Calvin Pickard would start Wednesday against Vancouver.

The Avalanche announced just before the opening faceoff that Matt Duchene is ill and wouldn't play. Defenseman Tyson Barrie and forward Rene Bourque remain out because of lower-body injuries.

The Avalanche (13-29-2) have lost five games in a row (0-4-1), are 1-12-1 in their past 14 at home and 2-14-1 in the past 17 overall.

"It's tough when you lose a lot of games," Mikko Rantanen said. "It's not easy to stay positive. You just have to try and go fresh every game and try not to think about the standings."

The Sharks (29-16-2) have won four in a row, are 10-4-1 in their past 15 games and are one point behind Anaheim for first place in the Pacific Division.

The Avalanche lineup:

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

DEFENSE
Fedor Tyutin -- Francois Beauchemin
Nikita Zadorov -- Cody Goloubef
Patrick Wiercioch -- Eric Gelinas

GOALIES
Spencer Martin
Calvin Pickard



Join the Discussion: » 41 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Rick Sadowski
» 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