Semyon Varlamov has another groin injury, so Calvin Pickard will start in goal for the Avalanche against Los Angeles at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday.
Here are the game notes.
Varlamov, who earlier this season missed 15 games because of groin injuries, got hurt late in the third period of Sunday's 3-2 win in Minnesota after stopping 29 of 30 shots. Reto Berra played the final 5:44 and gave up one goal on four shots.
All three goalies were on the ice Tuesday morning, but Varlamov left early after testing his injury.
"We certainly don't want to take any chances," coach Patrick Roy said. "He was not comfortable. It doesn't hurt him, but it doesn't feel like it's solid enough to take a chance."
Roy said Varlamov, who started the previous 22 consecutive games, is day to day. He said he's hopeful Varlamov will be able to play Thursday against New Jersey.
Pickard, 22, was recalled from Lake Erie of the AHL on Monday. He made 34 saves Sunday in Lake Erie's 1-0 win against Chicago for his 52nd career win with the Monsters, a team record.
Pickard played in 15 Avalanche games earlier this season, 12 of them starts, and went 6-6-3 with a 2.18 goals-against average and .936 save percentage while Varlamov was injured.
"It's nice to feel that confidence with the coaching staff that I can come up and play," Pickard said. "I've been playing quite a bit down there, so I'm staying sharp. There's definitely a lot of pressure involved, but I can't think too hard about that. I just want to go out and play my game.
"This situation has happened before where I was called up and played the next night. You don't have to think about it too much, just go out and play and hopefully it goes well."
Roy was diplomatic in explaining why he chose Pickard instead of Berra, who hasn't started since Nov. 25 when he allowed three goals on eight shots against Arizona. Pickard replaced him in the first period and made 25 saves in a come-from-behind 4-3 win.
"Reto has been practicing really well and in the three games he came in in relief he did a good job for us," Roy said. "I just feel it'd be unfair to put him in a situation like this. It's an important game for us and in all the games Calvin played for us he played really well. He's one of the reasons why we're in the position today thinking about still having a chance to make the playoffs." The Avalanche (30-25-11) have won three games in a row, matching their season high, and eight of their past 11 games. They are seven points behind Winnipeg for the second wild-card position in the Western Conference with 16 games remaining.
It's also a big game for the Kings (31-21-13). They're three points behind the Jets for the wild card but two behind Calgary for third place in the Pacific Division.
Avalanche center Joey Hishon will be scratched because of neck and elbow injuries. He hurt his neck in practice Friday and sustained the elbow injury Sunday in Minnesota.
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Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been on a roll with three goals and three assists in a three-game point-scoring streak, and nine goals and six assists in the past 12 games. He has 19 goals and 27 assists overall to tie Jarome Iginla for the team lead with 46 points.
"The guys have been playing well and we're working hard and the power play's been creating some momentum for us," Landeskog said. "But, really, you need a lot of luck as well. When times were tough at the start of the season you try to tell yourself they'll come in bunches. You work hard and keep doing the little things and you get rewarded.
"It's funny how it works; you get one and all of a sudden you get a few more after that. It's good to see the hard work paying off. Our power play, we need that to get going and to keep it going."
The Avalanche have gone 4-for-12 on power plays during the winning streak. They've killed 19 consecutive penalties in the past eight games and 26 of 27 in 11 games.
Here is the probable Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Cody McLeod Jordan Caron - Matt Duchene - Jarome Iginla Alex Tanguay - John Mitchell - Dennis Everberg Freddie Hamilton - Marc-Andre Cliche - Daniel Briere
DEFENSE Jan Hejda - Zach Redmond Nate Guenin - Tyson Barrie Brad Stuart - Nick Holden
GOALIES Calvin Pickard Reto Berra