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Johnson, Makar stay home; Rantanen back with MacKinnon |
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Rick Sadowski
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Defensemen Erik Johnson and Cale Makar will remain in Colorado to work with skills coach Shawn Allard during the Avalanche’s two-game road trip that begins Monday in St. Louis.
“We don’t have a lot of ice time (to practice) on this trip,” coach Jared Bednar said.
Johnson (lower-body injury) took part in practice Sunday while wearing a no-contact jersey. Makar (upper-body injury) skated with Allard before practice.
Johnson has missed nine games since he was hit from behind by Toronto’s Alexander Kerfoot on Nov. 23. Kerfoot was assessed a boarding penalty and two days later was given a two-game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Makar missed the Avalanche’s three-game homestand that ended Friday with a 3-1 win against New Jersey. He was injured on a check by Boston’s Brad Marchand on Dec. 7.
The Avalanche recalled Anton Lindholm from the Colorado Eagles on Sunday, giving them one extra healthy defenseman.
Goalie Pavel Francouz is ill and didn’t practice Sunday, but he traveled with the team to St. Louis. It’s certainly possible Francouz could start against the Blues based on his recent play if he feels well enough, but Philipp Grubauer practiced and appears to have recovered from the lower-body injury he sustained in Boston.
Bednar said he’d make that decision Monday morning.
Right wing Mikko Rantanen was back on the top line at practice with Nathan MacKinnon and Andre Burakovsky, with Joonas Donskoi moving back to the second unit with Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri.
“The last two games we haven’t played our best,” Rantanen said. “So we switched it up a little bit trying to find different things that work. We have to find four lines that work.”
The Avalanche went 2-0-1 on the homestand, defeating Philadelphia and New Jersey by 3-1 scores, needing exceptional goaltending from Francouz to do it.
Rantanen had two goals against the Flyers and an assist on MacKinnon’s empty-net goal with 32 seconds left against the Devils.
"I felt last game especially, Mikko was working real hard, making some plays," Bednar said. "Both of our top lines were just OK in those games. I'm trying to get Mikko back with MacK and see how it works out."
The Avalanche, 8-0-1 in the past nine games, are one point behind the West-leading Blues with two games in hand heading into Monday’s game. They’ll play in Chicago on Wednesday.
The Blues scored four goals in the final 15 minutes Saturday to beat the Blackhawks 4-3.
“There is a long way to go,” Rantanen said. “They’re a top team and so are we, so it’s going to be a fun one.”
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