The Avalanche cut its training camp roster to 27 players Tuesday, sending rookies Paul Healey and Jeff Finger to the Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League.
Healey, a left wing, played sparingly in the preseason. Finger, a defenseman, saw more action.
The Avs need to cut at least three more players by opening night, Oct. 5.
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Avs defensemen Curtis Leschyshyn (hip) and Patrice Brisebois (groin) did not dress for the Detroit game Tuesday night.
Not only did the Red Wings send no regular veterans to Denver for the game, they flew into town during the afternoon.
Footnotes
Entering the game, the Avalanche had a 1.96 goals against average, second-best in the NHL. … Colorado entered the game having killed 22-of-24 power plays (91.7 percent), third-best in the league. … Veteran center Pavel Datsyuk, who signed a two- year contract with Detroit this week after threatening to play in Russia, will make his preseason debut tonight against Columbus. … Avs coach Joel Quenneville said right wing Milan Hejduk’s rehabilitation from knee surgery is on schedule, but it’s too soon to narrow down a definitive return date. Hejduk’s original prognosis was an absence of at least four weeks. … Right wing Marek Svatos returned to action for the Avs after missing Saturday’s preseason game because of a strained groin.
