Colorado Avalanche
Gabe Landeskog to play Saturday against Arizona
The latest stint on the Covid list for Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog is over.
Avs coach Jared Bednar said Landeskog’s five-day, mandated absence from a positive test ended Friday and he boarded the team’s charter plane in preparation for Saturday’s second of a barn-to-barn series with the Arizona Coyotes.
The Avs, who won their 13th straight game at home Friday against the Coyotes, 4-3 in a shootout, will start former Coyote Darcy Kuemper in goal.
Landeskog is likely to rejoin his spot on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
The Avs lost veteran D-man Ryan Murray to an upper-body injury Friday. The Avs are already without defenseman Bo Byram, who is on personal leave from the team. As of late Friday night, nobody had been recalled by the Avs from the Colorado Eagles, to potentially fill in for Murray.
Kurtis MacDermid is likely to join the defense now, especially with Landeskog back.
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I don’t know about you all, but I was kind of hoping to hear something different once news about Murray came out in the third. Like maybe they had yanked Barron off the ice up in Loveland, put his skate guards on, thrown his phone and street clothes in his hockey bag, grabbed a couple of extra sticks, and immediately started driving him to the airport as is to join the team on the charter. I kind of like MacD on the 4th line, but not so much on the blue line.
I think Avs will be able to survive with MacD on D in AZ. I think Avs win big tomorrow no matter what.
I like that positive attitude Dater. The team is becoming the cardiac kids. A big win would help my blood pressure.
I think playing in these close games will help the Avs come playoff time. But I agree. I’d like to see them win 7-0 with three goals in the first period so I can relax more.
It will be really good to get Landeskog back. The first line is really not the same without him. This should also mean that the second line will be at full strength for the first time in a while. They looked great before Nuke got injured.
Guess it’ll just be one of those years. One in, one out. Never ever ever a full lineup.
Is Darcy Kuemper a Cup-caliber goalie? Breaking down his first 24 starts for the Avalanche, by the numbers and video :
https://theathletic.com/3067881/2022/01/13/is-darcy-kuemper-a-cup-caliber-goalie-breaking-down-his-first-24-starts-for-the-avalanche-by-the-numbers-and-video/?source=freeweeklyemail&campaign=602288
I think he’s sub-par for a Cup run, Yan.
I’m sure it’s a good article. But it’s behind a paywall…
I know. I would have liked to read it 🙁
Yan, you’re not allowed to post an article that you never read as supporting evidence that Darcy’s not good enough to win a Cup with. I even read the one where Kevin Weeks said he is.
I don’t try to do propaganda with Kuemper. Everyone can have his opinion. I don’t have no problem with this. You know no doubt my opinion on the subject and the result of my analyze… I am glad for you that you can read the article. 🙂
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