Avalanche Practice Report: Lehkonen, Rodrigues In Regular Jerseys

A brief Avalanche practice notebook from Family Sports here: An optional practice, and many guys opted out. But two players that didn’t skip it: Artturi Lehkonen and Evan Rodrigues.

Lehkonen was in a regular blue sweater and skated with abandon, while ERod was in a green jersey. I believe that is still classified as a “regular” jersey and, thus, perhaps there is a chance he returns tomorrow in St. Louis. If I had to bet, though, I’d probably bet that he won’t play against the Blues.

Coach Jared Bednar is taking the day off from the media, so we won’t know who’s in or who’s out until the lineup sheet is posted tomorrow afternoon from Enterprise Center in the Lou.

UPDATE: I’ve learned that Lehkonen will travel to St. Louis. ERod will not.

We’ll have full coverage of the game in the Lou tomorrow. Colleague Brennan Vogt is making his maiden voyage as an NHL writer for this one, so it’s a big day for him. I still well remember my first NHL trip of any kind – to Detroit in 1995 to cover the Stanley Cup Finals between the Red Wings and Devils.

I stayed at the Hotel Pontchartrain in downtown Detroit, and it was like I was on Mars, as far as being in a new world. Everything was so fresh and so new and exciting. Man, I got a chill just writing that.

Now? I’m the grizzled old vet, with about 2.5 million flight miles on my resume, about 1,500 or so hotel room nights. The road does not hold the same thrill for me anymore.

I’m budgeting about enough for Brennan to eat very well at … a McDonald’s or something similar.

If you want to help Brennan eat a little better, and to contribute to our ongoing Avalanche travel budget, by all means, the Avs Travel Tip Jar is open. Tip Jar here. All monies go to Avalanche travel, period, and 5 cents of every dollar goes to the Thornton Food Bank. I will be dropping off food early next week on behalf of y’all, and will add to that contribution personally as well.

Here’s some video of Lehks (and ERod in that green getup):