As if playing Pittsburgh with all its offensive weapons isn't difficult enough, the Avalanche will meet the Penguins without suspended defenseman Erik Johnson at the Pepsi Center on Monday.
Johnson on Sunday received a two-game penalty following his hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding Tampa Bay's Vladislav Namestnikov in Saturday's game.
Here are the GAME NOTES.
"Bad mistake on my part," Johnson said after the morning skate. "I just tried to separate him from the puck from the rebound. No excuse from my end, just kind of a dangerous play I shouldn't make. It's an expensive mistake.
"I definitely expected a little bit (of a suspension) when you get a hearing. He got the first shot and the rebound was right there and I just gave him probably a shove that knocked him off balance. I'm happy he wasn't hurt.
"It's definitely a play you don't want to see happen and it definitely wasn't my intention to have the result happen the way it did, and I regret it. It's definitely a mistake on my end and I'm paying for it, for sure."
Colorado’s Erik Johnson suspended two games for boarding Tampa Bay’s Vladislav Namestnikov. https://t.co/lut25xraWy
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 18, 2017
Johnson, who averages 25:38 in ice time a game, leads Avalanche defensemen in goals (four) and blocked shots (68). He'll miss Thursday's game in Los Angeles and return Saturday in Arizona.
"(Sitting out) against two really good teams, so that's a frustrating part too," he said. "I have confidence the guys will step up and get the job done in my absence."
Coach Jared Bednar said he'll be changing defense pairings throughout the game but will start with Nikita Zadorov-Mark Barberio, Patrik Nemeth-Tyson Barrie, and Samuel Girard-Anton Lindholm.
"All those guys will have to pick up the slack," Bednar said. "The partners, you'll see them mixed and matched a lot just to make sure that the ice time is distributed evenly. I don't think we have another guy who can jump in and play 25-plus (minutes) for us."
Also, forward Alexander Kerfoot will play after missing three games with a foot injury. He'll be on a line with Tyson Jost and Nail Yakupov. Gabriel Bourque will be scratched.
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Talked briefly with Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who always looks forward to playing against Nathan MacKinnon, his Nova Scotia neighbor. Neither had a point a week ago in the Avalanche's 2-1 win in Pittsburgh.
"It's fun," Crosby said. "He's obviously having a great year, he's playing really well. I don't know if we'll be matched up against each other or not, but we'll have to be aware of him out there.
"It's good to see him. We train together in the summer and you see how hard he works and you want to see him do well. That being said, when you play against each other, you want to win."
The Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen Alexander Kerfoot -- Tyson Jost -- Nail Yakupov Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau Sven Andrighetto -- J.T. Compher -- Colin Wilson
DEFENSE Nikita Zadorov -- Mark Barberio Patrik Nemeth -- Tyson Barrie Samuel Girard -- Anton Lindholm
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Jonathan Bernier