Avs Aim For More Than Just Surviving

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--Surviving is not enough for the Colorado Avalanche.
While the team has faced a rash of injuries recently, the Avs don't have time to wait until everyone is healthy to make a run to secure a playoff position.

"If we're just looking to survive then we're not going to keep pace," said Colorado head coach Jared Bednar on Tuesday. "Within our room, we feel that we have enough to win and guys need to step up. We've been good at times throughout the course of the year, but what guys have done at this point with all the injuries we have, we need a little more from everyone to get the job done. That is what we're focusing on, trying to improve as individuals and as a group to get the job done."
The Avalanche went 1-2-0 on its recent three-game road trip with stops in St. Louis, Carolina and Buffalo and did it without several key contributors. Nathan MacKinnon remains out with an upper-body injury and fellow forward Blake Comeau missed the last two contests of the trip after hurting his lower body in last Thursday's outing at the St. Louis Blues.
The club is also without forward Sven Andrighetto and defenseman Mark Barberio due to lower-body ailments. Andrighetto hasn't played since Dec. 31, missing the last 17 games, while Barberio has been out for the past eight outings.
"Nothing new on Andrighetto. Barberio is starting to feel better, but he's still not on the ice," Bednar said.
MacKinnon got hurt on Jan. 30 at the Vancouver Canucks, and he has been making progress in his recovery. He took part in practice on Tuesday at Family Sports Center in a red, non-contact jersey, but there is no change in the forward's status.
"He's coming. He's been skating the whole week without us," Bednar said. "Jumped in some of the non-contact stuff. That is where he's at."

MacKinnon has a recovery timetable of two-to-four weeks, and Tuesday was exactly two weeks since he got hurt. He was second in the league in scoring with 61 points (24 goals and 37 assists) at the time of his injury.
"We're [3-3-0] with MacK out. I would say that is pretty good, but the problem is it isn't good enough," Bednar said. "We're losing ground every day in the playoff race. When he was out, we were the last wild card spot and now we're chasing. It takes more than .500 hockey to stay in this race right now, especially in our division. It's unfortunate, but that's a fact. We're going to have to find a way to win a few more games here."
The other three injured skaters didn't take the ice at Family Sports Center.
Comeau is doubtful for Wednesday's contest versus the Montreal Canadiens. His spot on a line with center Carl Soderberg and fellow wing Matt Nieto has been taken by Gabriel Bourque, at least for the time being.
"It changes a little bit, but at the same time Bourque is really hot," Soderberg said of the dynamic of the line without Comeau. "He's a really good player as well and good defensively. We've played pretty much the same hockey."
Bourque has three goals in his last four games, including tallying the game-winner in Sunday's 5-4 win at the Sabres.
Semyon Varlamov will get the start in net against the Canadiens on Wednesday. It will be his third start and first at home since coming back from a lower-body injury 10 days ago.
Colorado made a few roster moves on Tuesday. The Avs switched defensemen with the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage, recalling Duncan Siemens and reassigning Andrei Mironov. They all recalled forward Rocco Grimaldi from the Rampage.