Avalanche forward Jim Dowd is playing for his ninth NHL club, so he is well-versed on getting acclimated to new surroundings.
However, his March 9 acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks still makes him shake his head in disbelief.
Dowd awoke that morning preparing to play the Avalanche and participated in Chicago’s morning skate at the United Center. Around lunchtime he was told to swap locker rooms and meet with Colorado’s equipment personnel and prepare to play against the Blackhawks.
“It was pretty weird – I mean really, really weird,” Dowd said of the trade that gave Chicago the Avalanche’s fourth-round draft pick this year. “But it actually turned out good, because I didn’t have to travel anywhere and my kids got to see my first game with the Avalanche.”
Dowd, a New Jersey native who began his NHL career in 1991 with the Devils, faces Chicago again tonight under more settling circumstances at the Pepsi Center. His equipment is broken in and his family has had time to cope with the trade that likely will give him a chance to participate in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“Going from a tough situation to a battle for first place (in the Northwest Division) is a great feeling, but there’s a great group of guys over there – one of the best group of guys I’ve ever played with,” Dowd said. “They just have a young team with a lot of potential, and everyone knows young teams need time.”
The Blackhawks, who have no chance of making the playoffs, defeated St. Louis and Detroit in overtime last week before losing 5-2 at Columbus on Saturday.
Avs winger Ian Laperriere called teams such as the Blackhawks “troublemakers” for clubs in the hunt to make the playoffs.
“These are dangerous games. Those teams – Minnesota, St. Louis, Chicago and San Jose – I’ve been on their side and you just want to be troublemakers,” Laperriere said.
Tonight’s game is the first of a five-game homestand, as Colorado then hosts San Jose on Wednesday, the Blues on Saturday and the Wild on Sunday. The homestand ends April 11 against the Coyotes, and the Avs finish the regular season with road games at Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton.
“We have to respond to a so-so effort the other night in Calgary and focus on establishing a good start to (the homestand),” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said.
Footnotes
Quenneville, who pulled goalie Peter Budaj in Friday’s 6-3 loss at Calgary, said Budaj probably will start again tonight. … Defensemen John-Michael Liles and Karlis Skrastins didn’t practice Saturday because of soreness, Quenneville said. Both are expected to play tonight.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
