Avalanche's Johnson day-to-day with back injury

CHICAGO -- Already playing with 17 skaters, the Colorado Avalanche finished a 3-2 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night without defenseman Erik Johnson.

The top-pair blueliner took one shift midway through the third period and didn't play again because of a back issue. Johnson is considered day-to-day, according to Avalanche coach Patrick Roy, who also made defenseman Cory Sarich a late scratch due to a back injury.

Johnson leads all Avalanche defensemen with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 46 games.

Center Paul Stastny missed the game with a leg injury and backup goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was also absent because of a back injury, prompting Roy to bring some levity to the situation after the game.

"I know that Paul Stastny is day-to-day, and I assume it's going to be day-to-day for [Sarich and Johnson] as well," Roy said. "We'll know more [Wednesday]. Maybe they have to change the beds in the hotel when we're in Chicago. I don't know what the heck is going on."