Anton Lindholm will replace injured defenseman Nikita Zadorov for the Avalanche’s weekend games, Friday against Chicago at the Pepsi Center and Saturday in Arizona.
The GAME NOTES.
Zadorov is out with a lower-body injury.
Philipp Grubauer will start again after making 35 saves Wednesday in a 2-1 win against Montreal. Semyon Varlamov will start Saturday.
Lindholm, 24, was recalled from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL where he had five assists in 20 games. He had four assists in 48 games with the Avalanche last season after playing in 12 games with them the year before.
“I had a few injuries earlier in the year, so I kind of had to click the reset button for a while, but the last month or so I’ve been feeling really good,… Lindholm said after the morning skate.
Lindholm, who will be paired with Patrik Nemeth, said he’s been working on his puck skills and trying to develop more of an offensive game.
Having spent time with the Avalanche will be helpful.
“There is less to think about before entering a game, for sure," Lindholm said. "Knowing the staff and knowing the system, it doesn't create a whole lot of question marks from my part. Just go out and play.…
Coach Jared Bednar said he and his staff were getting good reports on Lindholm.
“It's good to get him back,… he said. “We know he's not going to cheat us from his effort and try. That is what we need, someone to skate and play hard."
Alexander Kerfoot and Colin Wilson have been moved from the fourth line to the second with J.T. Compher in an attempt to get more secondary scoring. They were together in the third period against Montreal.
"I want to see them repeat what they did late in the game the other night," Bednar said. "I thought all three of those guys were skating, playing hard, playing through people. Good details, hungry on pucks."
Tyson Jost will be on the fourth line with Gabriel Bourque and Sven Andrighetto.
After skating at the Pepsi Center in the morning, Sheldon Dries was to make the hour-long drive to Loveland and play for the Eagles on Friday.
The lineup:
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen Alexander Kerfoot – J.T. Compher – Colin Wilson Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Matt Calvert Gabriel Bourque – Tyson Jost – Sven Andrighetto
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson Ian Cole – Tyson Barrie Anton Lindholm – Patrik Nemeth
Philipp Grubauer Semyon Varlamov