Who should replace Sam Girard in Avalanche lineup? (+)

ST. LOUIS – I’m already on record saying I believe Jack Johnson should get the job of filling in for the injured Sam Girard, who will be out the rest of the playoffs with a broken sternum. But Jared Bednar said today that he might put Ryan Murray or Kurtis MacDermid in there instead. So, we’ll have to wait and see who’s in for Game 4 tomorrow night here.

For me, Johnson brings the best of all elements not only to replace Girard, but for how Game 4 might be played. Johnson is big, physical and tough. The Avs, uh, might need some of that element in Game 4, with this entire city up in arms over Jordan Binnington being lost for the series to a knee injury after a collision that involved Public Enemy No. 1 here, Nazem Kadri.

Johnson isn’t an offensive D-man anymore, but he still has a good slapper and he can skate with the puck when needed. He played 74 games for the Avs in the regular season and he played very well. I don’t care whatever convoluted, manufactured analytics stat, or whatever chart that looks like a Jackson Pollock painting, you want to throw at me. He played very well and greatly contributed to a team that had the best record in the Western Conference.