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Calvert back in Denver; Grubauer, Francouz are close to returning

November 18, 2019, 7:38 PM ET [5 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Matt Calvert is back in Denver, and goalies Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz could be available when the Avalanche play in Calgary on Tuesday.

Calvert, who sustained a head injury with about 2 1-2 minutes remaining in the third period Saturday in Vancouver, is being re-examined by team doctors.

"He started to feel a little better the day that he left," coach Jared Bednar told the Avalanche web site. "With him being unable to play, might as well get him home and get him some work done so he doesn't have to travel around with the team for two games."

The Avalanche finish their five-game road trip Thursday in Minnesota.

Calvert slid on the ice to block a shot by Elias Pettersson when the puck hit him on the side of his head. He remained down and was bleeding – the officials didn’t stop play – when the Canucks scored to close within 4-3 with a sixth skater and eventually tied the game to send it to to overtime. The Avalanche won 5-4 on Nathan MacKinnon’s goal 27 seconds into the extra period.

Bednar said Calvert hadn’t been diagnosed with a concussion as of Monday.

Grubauer and Francouz practiced Monday along with goalies Adam Werner and Antoine Bibeau, who had been called up from the Colorado Eagles. Grubauer has missed five games with a lower-body injury while Francouz sustained a concussion last Tuesday, 31 seconds into the Avalanche’s game in Winnipeg to open the trip.

Forward Tyson Jost, who didn’t play in Vancouver because of an upper-body injury, took part in a few drills Monday while wearing a non-contact jersey.

Down to 11 healthy forwards, the Avalanche have recalled Logan O’Connor from the Eagles.

*****

The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon was named the NHL’s second star for the week ending Sunday after collecting seven points (four goals, three assists) in three games.

MacKinnon is sixth among league scorers with 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 20 games.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid was the first star with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in three games.

Florida’s Keith Yandle was the third star with eight points (one goal, seven assists in three games.



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