The Avalanche can move back into a playoff position Wednesday when they face Vancouver at the Pepsi Center.
The GAME NOTES.
The Avalanche, who are 5-1-1 in the past seven games, are one point behind Dallas for the second wild card position and two points behind Minnesota for the first wild card. The Stars and Wild are idle.
It’s also a big game for Vancouver, which trails Dallas by five points.
Semyon Varlamov will start in goal.
“We can’t really rely on other teams, it’s got to be up to us,… Erik Johnson said after the morning skate. “We have to make sure we’re taking care of home ice. We’re right in the thick of it. If we take care of our business, I think we’ll be where we want to be.…
Colin Wilson will play after missing eight games with an upper-body injury. He’ll replace Gabriel Bourque on the fourth line with Sven Andrighetto and Sheldon Dries.
“The last 20 games of the season are always exciting,… Wilson said. “The team’s certainly improved over these last five or six games, so I just want to get back and contribute to it.…
Coach Jared Bednar said he’ll have Gabriel Landeskog and Derick Brassard switch places, with Landeskog returning to a line with Tyson Jost and Matt Calvert. Brassard, who scored Monday against his former Florida teammates after being acquired for a 2020 third-round draft pick, will skate with Carl Soderberg and J.T. Compher.
The lineup:
Alexander Kerfoot -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen Gabriel Landeskog -- Tyson Jost – Matt Calvert Derick Brassard -- Carl Soderberg -- J.T. Compher Sven Andrighetto -- Sheldon Dries – Colin Wilson
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson Ryan Graves -- Tyson Barrie Patrik Nemeth – Nikita Zadorov
Semyon Varlamov Philipp Grubauer