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Another opportunity for Greer

December 11, 2018, 4:25 PM ET [1 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Injuries to Alexander Kerfoot and Vladislav Kamenev have forced the Avalanche to do some line shuffling for Tuesday’s game against Edmonton at the Pepsi Center.

The GAME NOTES.

Kerfoot has an undisclosed injury and is day to day “for now,” coach Jared Bednar said after the morning skate. Kamenev hurt his shoulder Saturday against Tampa Bay and will need surgery, possibly season ending.

Left wing A.J. Greer was summoned Monday from the AHL Colorado Eagles and will be on the fourth line with center Colin Wilson and right wing Gabriel Bourque.

Sven Andrighetto will move to right wing on the second line with Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher.

Semyon Varlamov will be in goal.

Greer, who will be 22 on Friday, is having an excellent season with the Eagles, collecting 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 20 games. He had four assists in 23 previous games with the Avalanche.

"The interesting note on him is I think he is playing the best hockey of his career down there,” Bednar said. “He's an impact player down there right now. He's playing with a lot of energy. He is physical, he is getting on pucks, he's going hard to the net.

"When we're thinking of call-ups, we would like to reward someone who is doing all the right things and is playing real well, and certainly for him that is the case in this situation."

This is Greer’s third recall this season, but he only played in one game, Nov. 2 at Vancouver. He said he was at Best Buy with a couple of teammates making purchases for an upcoming road trip when he was informed of the promotion.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Greer, who is 6-feet-3 and 210 pounds. “It’s a dream come true at the time. As soon as you get that call, you’re excited, you want to tell everyone. I’m really lucky to be able to have the opportunity to play tonight.

“The start of the year is the best so far since I turned pro. Being in the right state of mind and enjoying playing hockey, not worrying about anything else other than myself and my teammates. I’m excited, but I think I’ve earned it to be here and I really want to show them that I belong here.”

The lineup:

Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Tyson Jost - J.T. Compher - Sven Andrighetto
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Matt Calvert
A.J. Greer -- Colin Wilson -- Gabriel Bourque

Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Ian Cole - Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth -- Nikita Zadorov

Semyon Varlamov
Philipp Grubauer




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