Quick Practice Before One-Game Trip

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--The Colorado Avalanche practiced at Family Sports Center Wednesday morning following its 3-1 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
After a tough loss to the Knights, the Avalanche is looking to make the necessary changes in an effort to string together a few wins as the team is 2-4-0 to start the year.

The team worked on 5-on-5 drills with their respective lines for most of the session.
Devon Toews was on the ice with the squad and has been approved for controlled contact. Toews will travel to St. Louis and take part in Thursday's morning skate, but he will not play in the contest.
Tyson Jost was not on the ice as he was given a maintenance day.
The top two lines were altered with Andre Burakovsky skating with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen while forward Logan O'Connor was practicing on a line with Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog.

"I mean, he has been a consistent worker. Forecheck, retrieving pucks, keeping pucks alive, hard in the battles to help us come out with pucks and be able to play in the offensive zone, disciplined with the puck in the neutral zone," said Bednar. "So, he's a guy for me that you know he's doing all the right things and playing the right way and that second line, some of our lines, are missing that element. So, it's good to spot for him there. That's why I've that's why I have Landy with them too."
OTHER INJURY NEWS
Valeri Nichushkin continued to practice with skills coach Shawn Allard while rehabbing his upper-body injury.
Pavel Francouz was also on the ice for a short period Wednesday morning though he is still sidelined due to a lower-body ailment.
Colorado departed to St. Louis after practice for its road game against the Blues on Thursday night. This will be the second matchup against the Blues for the Avalanche after a 5-3 loss in its second contest of the season.
LINE COMBINATIONS
96 Mikko Rantanen - 29
Nathan MacKinnon
- 95
Andre Burakovsky
91 Nazem Kadri - 92 Gabriel Landeskog - 25 Logan O'Connor
75 Sampo Ranta - 37 J.T. Compher -- 26 Jacob MacDonald
43 Darren Helm - 12 Jayson Megna - 61 Martin Kaut
4
Bowen Byram
- 8
Cale Makar
3
Jack Johnson
- 6
Erik Johnson
28
Ryan Murray
- 56
Kurtis MacDermid
7 Devon Toews
35
Darcy Kuemper
31
Jonas Johansson