Forwards Andre Burakovsky, Darren Helm, Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin did not participate in the session. Nichushkin is week-to-week with an upper-body injury after Wednesday's season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks. Helm came on the ice prior to skate, but ultimately did not stay on for practice as he and Burakovsky are "dinged up" but are probable for Saturday's outing.
MacKinnon remains on the team's COVID-protocol list and likely will be out until he has two negative COVID tests or 10 days has passed, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the NHL announced Thursday afternoon that it has suspended Gabriel Landeskog for two games for boarding Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach in the Avs' game on Wednesday.
"All three of them got dinged up in the game the other night, Helm and Burakovsky are probable for tomorrow, just kind of felt that it was better not to push it for today," Bednar said. "I think both guys will play and so the day off probably does more good than coming out and doing some work today.
"Val got dinged up in the game as well and he will be week-to-week with an upper-body injury. So, missing a few guys there, MacKinnon possibly, Landeskog with the suspension, Val--a large part of our top-six there. We will have recalls later today after three, we are just in discussions on who that is and what this lineup should look like for tomorrow."
The Avalanche will call up a few players from the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles on Friday afternoon to join the squad for the matchup against the Blues on Saturday evening at Ball Arena.
Erik Johnson on having head coach Jared Bednar back: "I mean it's different, there is a void I mean but its kind of like one of your top players being out. When you are are playing you don't really notice you are just kind of in the zone. You kind of notice with practice and meetings and intermission and stuff like that but it's good to have him back for sure, a big asset to us."
