Adrian Dater
By now, Avalanche fans are so conditioned for bad news the next day following an undetermined possible injury, that today must have seemed a bit like Christmas. Bo Byram, it turns out, is OK. Imagine that.
When Avs practice commenced at Family Sports Center, there he was, No. 4, in a regular jersey. Then, a full practice, with contact, and encouraging words from Jared Bednar afterward. Imagine that.
“You’re always nervous about it after a player leaves the game, what he’s going to feel like the next day. In this scenario, I think he was probably a little nervous about it too because of his history, but woke up this morning feeling great, worked out, wanted to try it on the ice and made it through the whole practice. I would say that’s a real positive sign at this point,” Bednar said.
Indeed.
Byram, who missed much of last season with a concussion, left last night’s game in the first period after taking an elbow to the head from Vancouver’s Bo Horvat. Prospects for an appearance at practice today, based on that and the Avs’ seemingly unending curse of bad luck injury-wise, seemed bleak.
But there he was, and it looks like “he’s a player for (Saturday)” against the Sharks, Bednar said.
Imagine that.
NOTEBOOK: Sam Girard didn’t practice today, but just a maintenance day, Bednar said. … Mikko Rantanen was the beneficiary of a rare scoring change today. The NHL determined it was him, not J.T. Compher, who scored the Avs’ final goal last night. … Vancouver’s Tucker Poolman was suspended two games by the NHL for hitting Kiefer Sherwood in the face with his stick last night, intentionally. … Bednar said goalie Pavel Francouz won’t skate for a few days, on doctor’s orders. Francouz has been rehabbing a sprained ankle. … The Avalanche and UCHealth will host their annual Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) game against the Sharks at Ball Arena. The HFC initiative is a collaboration between the NHL and NHLPA to honor cancer survivors, supporters and everyone who continues to battle the disease. The campaign is supported by all 32 NHL teams, each of which designates one home game in the month of November as its HFC night. It has raised more than $30 million for cancer research since its inception in 1998.
UCHealth and the Avalanche are offering cancer survivors and fans unique opportunities to take part in this year’s game, including recognizing UCHealth health care workers who are instrumental in providing care for those going through cancer. This year fans were asked to submit the name of their cancer warrior for inclusion on the UCHealth dasher board and posters lining the players’ entrance for Saturday’s game.
UCHealth will also host a photo booth on the concourse near Section 144, offering fans the opportunity to obtain “I Fight For” placards and personalize them with the name of someone they support in the battle with cancer. Fans can also stop by the “I Fight For” lights near section 106 for an opportunity to share photos on social media; some will be shown on the Ball Arena Board by using #GoAvsGo. In addition, all fans in attendance will receive an “I Fight For” scroll banner, which they can also personalize.