The Avalanche will be without goalie Semyon Varlamov for awhile because of a groin injury, his second such ailment this season.
Varlamov tweaked his groin Saturday late in the third period of the Avalanche's 3-2 win in New Jersey, but he's listed as day to day and hasn't been placed on injured reserve.
"Every day he's going to be evaluated and we're going to be very cautious," coach Patrick Roy said after practice Tuesday. "It's pretty much the same injury he had the last time. One bad movement at the end of the (Devils) game."
So Reto Berra is expected to start Thursday night against Washington at the Pepsi Center when the Avalanche try to extend their winning streak to three games. Goalie Calvin Pickard was recalled from Lake Erie as insurance and he practiced Tuesday.
"We're not happy to see Varly injured, but we have a lot of confidence in Reto," Roy said. "We know he's going to do a good job. He's been playing very well for us in the games that he's been in."
On another injury front, Roy said defenseman Ryan Wilson will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Wednesday. The oft-injured Wilson, 27, hurt his shoulder Oct. 21 against Florida. He had no points in three games this season.
Wilson played in 28 and 12 games the previous two seasons. He will be an unrestricted free agent July 1 and isn't expected to be re-signed.
Nothing much new to report on Patrick Bordeleau (back surgery), Brad Stuart (hamstring) and Jesse Winchester (concussion). Bordeleau has started to skate on his own, but none of three are ready to play.
Berra is excited about getting more chances to play, though he wishes the circumstances were different. He has a 2-1-1 record in six games with a 2.70 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. He last played Nov. 8 in Philadelphia, a 4-3 loss when the Flyers scored three power-play goals.
"I'm happy I can play now," he said. "All I do now is try and help the team the same way that Varly did. I didn't play that much this year, but I feel pretty good. I got a lot of confidence off the starts I've had. I'm excited and happy to go back in.
"It's really bad for Varly. I hope he's back soon because he's a great guy, a great goalie and he helps the team a lot, but right now it's my turn."
Berra is playing with a lot more confidence than he did last season following his trade from Calgary, and he credits goalie coach Francois Allaire, with whom he worked after the trade and in the offseason.
"He's a great coach and he helps a lot, especially for me because a lot of years I didn't have a goalie coach," Berra said. "It's a big difference for me and it helps a lot. He's so simple and easy to understand."