The Avalanche have two preseason games and a week worth of practices left to get ready for the Oct. 4 season opener against Minnesota.
Good thing because the Avalanche’s 3-1 loss to Dallas at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night was their third in four games, though coach Jared Bednar once again used a lineup with plenty of prospects and without Nathan MacKinnon and his linemates.
“Some of it is because we have injuries,… Bednar said. “We’re still evaluating, especially again tonight as you could tell by our lineup (see below).…
Defenseman Nikita Zadorov made his preseason debut, having been medically cleared following offseason shoulder surgery. Zadorov, who was paired with Mark Barberio, played a game-high 23:20, had four hits and two blocked shots.
“Feels good,… Zadorov said. “It’s been five, six months so for sure it takes two games to get used to it -- the physicality, the timing and everything. It’s nice to get the first one done and I’m just going to get ready for the next one. Physically everything felt good.…
All things considered, Bednar was fine with Zadorov’s first game.
“He’s playing catch-up a little bit,… he said. “Other guys have gotten in game situations and understand (the need) to raise their compete level from practice when you’re playing against an opponent that’s not an Avalanche.
“He did some good things. Some of the things he’s got to speed up a little bit, but I think for the most part both teams looked pretty tired to me. It’s kind of that point in training camp where we’ve been grinding and practicing, and we looked a little sluggish. We had a decent start and then it looked like we ran out of gas.…
Bednar said the Avalanche will dress mostly veterans in the final two preseason games, Friday against Minnesota at the Pepsi Center and Sunday in Dallas.
“We haven’t finalized our numbers as to what we’re even going to keep yet,… he said. “The reality of it is we have 12 forwards returning and whoever makes our roster likely won’t play opening night barring injury.…
Goalie Semyon Varlamov played the entire game and allowed three goals, one especially weak, on 27 shots.
Ty Lewis scored the lone Avalanche goal, which came on a power play for a 1-0 lead at 13:08 of the first period. Vladislav Kamenev and 2018 first-round pick Martin Kaut had the assists.
The Avalanche assigned eight players to the AHL Colorado Eagles earlier Wednesday (see below) and were expected to make more cuts before Friday. Now that the camp roster numbers are down, they will have their first single group practice Thursday.
*****
This was the Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS Calvert – Soderberg - Kaut Andrighetto – Jost – Wilson Kamenev – Dries - O’Connor Lewis - Shvyrev – Bass
DEFENSE Zadorov – Barberio Boikov – Graves Nemeth – Alt
GOALIES Varlamov Francouz *****
The Avalanche reduced the roster to 36 by sending the following to the AHL Eagles:
Left wings Andrew Agozzino, Travis Barron and A.J. Greer
Right wing Scott Kosmachuk
Defensemen Josh Anderson, Mason Geertsen and Nicolas Meloche
Goalie Spencer Martin
Previously, goalie Joe Cannata was assigned to the Eagles
Agozzino, Geertsen and Kosmachuk need to clear waivers.