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