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Avs practice, resume COVID-paused season Thursday |
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Rick Sadowski
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The Avalanche were back on the Ball Arena ice Wednesday after having three games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol, and they’ll resume the season Thursday in St. Louis.
“Today’s energy level was just OK,” coach Jared Bednar said. “I didn’t think the ice was very good, guys hadn’t been on so we were rusty. The start was OK and then we petered out pretty quick, so hopefully that’s something we can get back quickly.
“I know the guys were working out and doing everything they can on their own, but what they can do is sometimes limited depending on the resources that they have. Now we’re rushing to get back up to speed again.”
They’ll play without No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer and two important forwards, Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi, who remain on the COVID protocol list.
Unlike Grubauer and Donskoi, Bednar said Rantanen didn’t test positive for COVID-19 but was placed in protocol on Tuesday for contact tracing.
“He can’t come with us on the trip, he will continue to get tested here for a little bit and then there’s a possibility he could meet us and be an option for us before the trip is over,” Bednar said.
Defenseman Bowen Byram came off the list on Monday and worked out on his own Wednesday, but he didn’t make the trip. He hasn’t played since March 25 (he had an upper-body injury) and will need time before he’s ready to rejoin the lineup.
Defenseman Patrik Nemeth, who was acquired April 9 from the Detroit Red Wings, has recovered from an upper-body injury and will begin his second stint with the Avalanche on Thursday.
“It’s real exciting, especially going from a non-playoff team to a contender like Colorado is,” Nemeth said. “It’s even better that I know a lot of the guys here. It was only two years ago that (he was here) and I really enjoyed it. It’s a great fit and I’m really excited to be back.”
The Avalanche last played April 14 when Devan Dubnyk made his Avalanche debut in a 4-3 win in St. Louis.
They were scheduled to play Los Angeles at Ball Arena last Friday and Sunday, and against St. Louis on Tuesday, but those games were postponed by the NHL and the Avalanche’s facilities were closed after Donskoi tested positive.
The other two players to test positive at the time were Grubauer, who was placed in protocol April 14 and will be out at least one more week, and Byram, who had been on the list since April 9.
Grubauer and Donskoi can begin off-ice workouts 10 days after being diagnosed and go on the ice four days after that. Grubauer in particular will be given more time to return to game shape before he plays.
“I don’t want to rush him into a game the first day and have him pull something, so we got to get him strong, we got to get him back on the ice feeling good and if that takes four or five days, then that’s what it takes,” Bednar said.
“If it takes longer, then that’s what it takes. We want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing in getting him back in a timely fashion but also in a safe fashion so he’s ready to go on this run with us.”
The Avalanche were tested early Wednesday morning and were able to practice at 3 p.m. MT after receiving negative results. They have since flown to St. Louis.
The NHL on Wednesday rescheduled the three postponed games, including Tuesday’s game against the Blues, which has been moved to Monday, replacing the originally scheduled game in Vegas which has been moved to May 10.
They’ll play three straight games in St. Louis: Thursday, Saturday and Monday, and complete the trip next Wednesday in Las Vegas.
Forward Logan O’Connor, who has missed eight games with a lower-body injury, practiced Wednesday while wearing a regular jersey and is on the trip.
“Hopefully he’s going to be an option for us at some point on the trip,” Bednar said.
Forward Martin Kaut was recalled from the Colorado Eagles and is “definitely” an option to play, possibly as early as Thursday.
Kaut, 21, the Avalanche’s first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2018 NHL draft, had 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games with the American Hockey League team.
The Avalanche (30-9-4) were on a 17-1-2 roll and in first place in the West Division when their season was paused.
While idle, they’ve watched Vegas (32-11-2) move into the top spot by two points; they’ve played two more games than the Avalanche.
“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t even look at the standings,” Bednar said. “I haven’t looked at them for months. I’m looking at our team, how we’re playing … I don’t care now that Vegas is up on us. The only standings I care about are the ones at the end of the season.”
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