Avalanche taking advantage of break to heal as they get set to play Knights in conference finals
DENVER (AP) — Most of the Colorado Avalanche's players returned to the ice for practice Saturday after a two-day break. Emphasis on most. Noticeably missing were defensemen Cale Makar and Brent Burns, along with forward Artturi Lehkonen.
There to warm up before heading to the locker room was defenseman Josh Manson, while fellow blueliner Sam Malinski participated in a red, no-contact sweater. The Avalanche emerged from their second-round series with Minnesota with their share of bumps and bruises. That's why this hiatus between series — six full days of practice/rest — was welcome.
The Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche don't kick off the Western Conference final against Vegas until Wednesday night. “They’re all dealing with stuff in their day-to-day,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar explained of Makar, Burns, Manson and Lehkonen. Expected to be back at practice soon?
“Yeah," Bednar responded. “I think some of them will practice in the time we have. ” Lehkonen and Malinski both are dealing with upper-body injuries and didn't play in the final two games of the Minnesota series.
Manson has been dealing with an upper-body ailment, while Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist, left the ice after a collision late in Game 5, only to return as Colorado won 4-3 in overtime. Burns is, well, 41 years old. “It's good,” Jack Drury said about the break, “for a couple of guys that are banged up.