Defenseman Erik Johnson won't play Friday when the Avalanche face the St. Louis Blues at Pepsi Center. He'll play his first game Saturday in Dallas since sustaining a lower-body injury Jan. 4 against Los Angeles.
Here are the GAME NOTES.
Johnson wanted to play against his former team, but the medical and training staffs decided it would be better for him to wait one more day even though he has been skating for over week.
"We have to think about long term, what's best for the team and I," he said after the morning skate Friday. "I wanted to (play against the Blues), that was my indication to the staff, but I understand where they're coming from. I understand the thought process. I always thought it's easier coming back at home than on the road, but I understand for sure.
"I feel great, skated hard yesterday, skated hard today and I feel really good. I'm ready to get back in there and help the team. We're in a good spot right now and I want to come in and help the best I can."
The Avalanche also play back-to-back next week in San Jose and Los Angeles.
"I think it'll be nice to play tomorrow and have a couple days to work on some stuff," Johnson said. "I think I'll be a little more prepared for the back-to-back (then), as opposed to jumping in right away on a back-to-back. I think it'll be good."
Right wing Blake Comeau skipped the morning skate to be with his wife, who is due to give birth. Coach Patrick Roy said he thought he'd be available against the Blues. If he isn't, Mikhail Grigorenko will replace him on the line with Gabriel Landeskog and Carl Soderberg, with Chris Wagner centering Andreas Martinsen and Jarome Iginla.
"Right now I think (Comeau) is going to play," Roy said. "We'll see how it goes this morning. She does all the work, so he should be fresh for the game."
Roy said Semyon Varlamov would start in goal against the Blues and most likely again on Saturday against the Stars. Calvin Pickard is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Sharks.
Brian Elliott will be in goal for the Blues, who've won three games in a row and five of their past six.
Here's the Avalanche lineup (depending on Comeau's availability):
FORWARDS Alex Tanguay - Nathan MacKinnon - Matt Duchene Gabriel Landeskog - Carl Soderberg - Blake Comeau Andreas Martinsen - Mikhail Grigorenko - Jarome Iginla Cody McLeod - John Mitchell - Jack Skille
DEFENSE Francois Beauchemin - Nikita Zadorov Nick Holden - Tyson Barrie Zach Redmond - Chris Bigras
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Calvin Pickard