Philipp Grubauer starts Wednesday when the Avalanche face Minnesota at the Pepsi Center to try and salvage the homestand and remain in a playoff spot.
The GAME NOTES.
The Avalanche split the first two games of the three-game homestand and hold the second wild card position in the jam-packed Western Conference with 33 games remaining. Pretty amazing, considering they are 3-9-2 in the past 14 games.
They have 52 points, one fewer than the Wild, who are third in the Central Division and have two more regulation/overtime wins (24-22).
Dallas, in the first wild card spot, has 52 points and 24 regulation/overtime wins. Vancouver is sitting behind the Avalanche with 52 points in 50 games with 24 regulation/overtime wins, while Anaheim has 51 points in 50 games with 18 ROW.
“It’s as tight as I’ve ever seen it,… Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said after the morning skate. “Nashville and Winnipeg are just a little above us all, but not by such a great amount that they can’t be worried about it. Everybody else’s sense of urgency to win games is an awfully lot earlier than it would have been at a normal time, which is usually the (Feb. 25) trading deadline.…
The Avalanche are banking on Grubauer to play the way they thought he would when they acquired him from Washington last summer and signed him to a three-year, $10 million contract.
Grubauer hasn’t played since Jan. 8 when he allowed six goals on 20 shots in a 7-4 loss at Winnipeg. He is 9-5-3 with a 3.29 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
“It’s time to see if he can respond, give him a chance to play,… coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s been good in practice, working hard, hungry for the net. Goaltending has been just OK, so we need someone to step up.…
Defenseman Ryan Graves was recalled from the AHL Colorado Eagles after a weekend stint and will replace Mark Barberio. Graves will be paired with Patrik Nemeth.
This will be the Avalanche’s last game before the NHL All-Star break and league-mandated five-day break. They won’t play again until Feb. 2 against Vancouver at the Pepsi Center.
All three members of the top line -- Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen – will represent the Avalanche at All-Star Weekend in San Jose.
“To get to go with Mikko and Nate, it should be a lot of fun,… Landeskog said. “I went my rookie year and just did the Young Guns competition, and that was it. I’m very grateful and happy for the fans – thankful that they voted me in. It’s something I take a lot of pride in and I’m very excited about it.…
The projected lineup:
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen Colin Wilson – Carl Soderberg -- J.T. Compher Sven Andrighetto – Alexander Kerfoot -- Matt Calvert Matt Nieto – Sheldon Dries – Gabriel Bourque
Samuel Girard -- Ian Cole Nikita Zadorov -- Tyson Barrie Ryan Graves -- Patrik Nemeth
Philipp Grubauer Semyon Varlamov