For the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month, Avalanche right wing Milan Hejduk will test it by skating today.
Hejduk, the NHL’s leading goal scorer in 2002-03 with 50, should get a more definitive prognosis for his return based on how the knee responds. After Hejduk had surgery Sept. 20 to clean out debris left from a previous surgery, the Avs said Hejduk would miss four to five weeks, which would put his return sometime between Oct. 18 and Oct. 25.
Based on the Avs’ offensive performance in Wednesday’s season-opening 4-3 loss at Edmonton, Hejduk’s return can’t come soon enough for Colorado.
The Avs mustered only 17 shots on Oilers goalie Ty Conklin, two in the second period. Injuries to forwards Hejduk, Brad May and Marek Svatos left new Avs coach Joel Quenne- ville using defensemen Bob Boughner and Brett Clark on a fourth line with center Brett McLean.
An indication of just how bad the Avs were offensively is the Boughner-McLean-Clark line put more combined points on the score sheet (three) than the top line of Joe Sakic, Andrew Brunette and Antti Laaksonen (one).
More than a lack of shots on goal, what disturbed Quenneville were the big gaps between the forwards and defense. There wasn’t enough effective forechecking or backchecking by the forwards, not enough surrounding of the puck by the five players on the ice. The game stayed close thanks to some excellent midgame saves by goalie David Aebischer and misfiring in close by Oilers forwards.
Pressuring the puck, getting offensive chances from turnovers and quick transition is Quenneville’s preferred style. In Game 1, the Oilers played such a style, not Colorado.
“I thought we were gapped out a little bit, particularly early in the game,” Quenneville said. “Coverage has got to get better, in all areas. We had a lot of different line combinations throughout the game, trying to change things up to get something going.”
The Avs also won only 38 percent of their faceoffs, winning 25 and losing 40. Pierre Turgeon won three of nine draws, Ian Laperriere 3-of-10 and Steve Konowalchuk was 0-for-5.
The Avs took eight minor penalties in the game, with Edmonton drawing just four – partly because the Avs were chasing puck-carriers from behind much of the night. The Oilers converted one of their seven power-play chances and scored the game-winning goal seven seconds after a hooking penalty to Sakic expired.
New defenseman Patrice Brisebois, who scored a tying goal in the third period, was assessed two of the minors, including a holding call that led to Jarret Stoll’s power-play goal to make it 3-2 in the third.
Brisebois said his actions might not have drawn penalties in the “old” NHL, and acknowledged he’s still adjusting to the new rules.
“On my (second) penalty, I just tried to use my strength,” Brisebois said. “I don’t know, sometimes (this) is going to be tough. Same thing on my first (penalty); I just tried to plug the guy coming in the slot. Those things, you need to adjust. We have no choice.”
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
