Avs Taking Advantage of Practice Time
Colorado is in a three-day stretch where it doesn't play a game
by Ron Knabenbauer @RonKnab / ColoradoAvalanche.com
CENTENNIAL, Colo.--The Colorado Avalanche continues its season-long, five-game homestand at Pepsi Center on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, but the team's schedule before that Division Rivalry contest has allowed it to get some good practice time in during a hectic time of the season.
The Avs are in the midst of a three-day break between outings following their 4-3 overtime loss versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. After having an off day on Saturday, Colorado held a 45-minute, full-team practice on Sunday at Family Sports Center and will likely do the same on Monday.
There was no update given on the status of forward Joonas Donskoi, who did not partake in the team session on Sunday. He missed his first game of the season on Friday against the Penguins while in concussion protocol following a hit to the head by the New York Rangers' Ryan Lindgren on Tuesday. Lindgren was not suspended by the league for his actions.
However, Donskoi did skate on his own prior to morning skate on Friday and before Sunday's practice.
The Avalanche's contest against the Stars is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the clubs. Colorado's homestand also includes games against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, St. Louis Blues on Saturday and Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Jan. 20.
PRACTICE LINE COMBINATIONS
Forwards
92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
95 Andre Burakovsky - 91 Nazem Kadri - 13 Valeri Nichushkin
83 Matt Nieto - 41 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 11 Matt Calvert
17 Tyson Jost - 37 J.T. Compher - 81 Vladislav Kamenev
Defensemen
49 Samuel Girard - 6 Erik Johnson
27 Ryan Graves - 8 Cale Makar
16 Nikita Zadorov - 28 Ian Cole
44 Mark Barberio
Goaltenders
31 Philipp Grubauer & 39 Pavel Francouz
Did Not Practice: Joonas Donskoi (concussion protocol), Colin Wilson (lower body, out indefinitely)