Had a nice conversation with Jarome Iginla after practice Friday for an NHL.com story that will run on Wednesday. I can say here that he's still happy he signed with the Avalanche despite the fact that the season hasn't gone as everyone hoped it would.
Iginla, who leads the Avalanche in goals (17) and points (37), is one of the most positive athletes I've ever met. He said he still believes these guys can make a run at a playoff spot even though they're eight points back (and way behind in regulation and overtime wins) with 27 games to go.
When I said the team's playoff prospects changed so drastically in about a week, starting with the home loss to Detroit, Iginla responded:
"They can change in a week the other way too. Honestly, right now, when you're in a tough stretch with four losses in a row, now were back aways but you win four or five in a row and you're right back there.
"It feels like it's so far, but it's not that far. You look around, almost every team has won four or five games in a row. We think it's possible and we understand from the outside that it's wishful thinking, but our focus is on getting that first one right now."
Despite their precarious situation, Iginla said it's easy to prepare for games because the Avalanche are mathematically alive for that second wild-card spot in the West. They play Dallas on Saturday at the Pepsi Center.
"It's still fun, it's the NHL," Iginla said. "We haven't given up on the playoffs. What's tough is when you play after you've been eliminated. Those are hard games. You're so used to each game meaning so much. Unfortunately, I've been a part of those too many times.
"But we know it's going to take probably around 40 points in the next 27 games, somewhere around there, to give us a shot. So it's going to take a couple big hot streaks. We believe it can happen for us. We haven't really had great hot streaks. We've had spurts and teams usually get them during the year and we feel ours could still be coming."
(The Avalanche has had two three-game winning streaks this season, most recently Dec. 20-23 against Buffalo, Detroit and St. Louis.)
"Each game now is that much more important and means so much more trying to get to 93, 94 or 95 points, whatever it is," Iginla said. "They're fun games to play. I find the more on the line, the more fun they are to play."
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The Avalanche recalled forward Paul Carey from Lake Erie in the AHL, where he had 13 goals and 14 assists in 27 games.
Coach Patrick Roy dressed seven defensemen Thursday against the New York Rangers and made fourth-line center Marc-Andre Cliche a healthy scratch. Roy said he wasn't sure if he'd use 11 forwards and seven defensemen against the Stars.
"I'm going to take the night to think about it and (Saturday) we'll make a decision," he said.
After saying he spoke with Lake Erie coach Dean Chynoweth on Friday morning, I asked about center Joey Hishon, the Avalanche's first-round pick in the 2010 NHL draft. Hishon has 11 goals and 14 assists in 43 games.
"He had a really good stretch," Roy said. "The last game, he didn't play as well. But lately, apparently, his game has been a lot better."
Not good enough for a recall, apparently.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov will make his 12th consecutive start Saturday.