Morning Skate Report: Hungry Teams Meet In Edmonton

EDMONTON, Alberta--Tonight's contest between the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers features two clubs looking to turn their recent skids around.
Colorado has gone 0-4-1 in its last five games while the Oilers have dropped each of their last three contests.
"It's going to be a fun game. I know for us, we really want to get back in that win column and I am sure Edmonton does too," said Avs forward Tyson Jost. "It's going to be two hungry teams, and I know you can expect both of our A-games. So it's going to be a fun game."

Colorado is coming off a 5-2 loss at the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, while Edmonton's fell 4-1 in its last outing at the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
In Winnipeg, the Avalanche outshot the Jets 30-24 but mistakes and errors in execution were the difference in the contest. Colorado is confident it can correct those against the Oilers.
"We just got to stick to our game. I thought we played pretty well on Friday, so we just got to keep playing the way we are and do the little things and those are going to add up," Jost added. "We are in a little bit of a lull right now, but we just got to keep working hard and play to our identity. I think when we do that we are a really good hockey team, and we know we can put wins together."

Jost missed four games from Oct. 27 to Nov. 7 with a head injury but scored in his first outing back on Friday against the Jets. His return to the lineup is something that Bednar says will help Colorado to succeed offensively.
"Hopefully we continue to pay attention to the things that have hurt us over the last few games and get a little more dangerous offensively here. Getting Jost back in the lineup and kind of setting our lines the way we like to have them should be helpful," Bednar said after morning skate.
"Our guys are still coming to the rink with the right mindset and attitude. We have a strong belief system in our room, we aren't putting too much pressure on ourselves. I want them to go out and have fun but we got to be aggressive and play on our toes here."

JOST BACK AT HOME

Jost was able to take advantage of Colorado's pre-scheduled day off on Saturday and spend the day relaxing with friends and family where he grew up.
He is from St. Albert, Alberta, a city just 25 minutes northwest of Edmonton, and the Oilers were the team he watched as a kid.
"I got quite a few [friends and family coming to the game]," said Jost. "It will be nice to have them in the stands, and I am excited to see them after. I got to see them a little bit yesterday too, so it was very enjoyable.
"You kind of dream about this when you are a little kid, playing in front of your friends and family, and I grew up an Oilers fan. It's pretty cool to come and play in this building."
His first NHL game at Rogers Place came last season on Feb. 1 in Colorado's 4-3 overtime win. He finished the game with two shots and a plus-1 rating in 15:36 of ice time.
The 20-year-old has three points (two goals, one assist) in 12 games this campaign, scoring his second tally on Friday in his return to the lineup.
"Nobody wants to be out with an injury, so it was nice to come back and contribute," he said. "It would have been nice if we would have got a win, but we just got to keep pushing here and find a way to get back in the win column."

SOME LINEUP NOTES

Russian netminder Semyon Varlamov will be back in net for the Avalanche tonight at Rogers Place. He has played in 11 games this season and owns a .927 save percentage and 2.38 goals-against average.
After the Avs' morning skate, head coach Jared Bednar said Mark Barberio will be Colorado's scratch among the defensemen and Marko Dano will be out among the forwards.
Matt Nieto missed the Avalanche's last contest with a lower-body injury, and he could be back in tonight, according to Bednar.
View: Avalanche at Oilers Projected Lineup