The duo skated in red, non-contact jerseys prior to practice at Family Sports Center, and Bourque even participated in a few drills, but they were later ruled out for Wednesday's match against the Vancouver Canucks.
"[Barrie] and Bourque both skated. I would say both those guys are doubtful for tomorrow though," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said after the session. "Him and Bourque are both in the same boat. They were both going to skate yesterday. Barrie decided against it. Bourque did skate. Bourque did skate again today. I would say doubtful for both those guys tomorrow, and I expect them both back after the break."
O'Brien gives the Avs some added flexibility up front as forward Matt Duchene missed Monday's game and Tuesday's practice due to an illness.
"There's a chance he could play tomorrow," Bednar said of the Avalanche's leading goalscorer. "The trainers will be checking in with him later today to see how he's feeling. If he starts feeling better, then we'll get the sense that he's turning the corner and will be able to play."
When discussing the team's play as of late, Bednar refused use the recent bout with the injury bug as an excuse for the squad's lack of success, however.
"It doesn't make our job any easier, [but] injuries are a part of the game. Everyone goes through it," Bednar said. "Look at what Dallas and some of these teams are going through all year. It doesn't make it easier on us with Varly, [Erik Johnson] and Barrie, Duchene, but we got players who need to step up in certain situations like this. We've been playing hard and playing pretty well lately, and that's without some of those guys. So we have to find a way to make do, and we'll start getting some results from some of these good stretches of hockey we've been playing. We've had some lapses in there as well, but we can't blame it on injuries because it's part of the game every team deals with."
Further information on Colorado's lineup will be known after Wednesday's pregame media session. The Avs face the visiting Vancouver Canucks at 7:30 p.m. MT.
