Alex Tanguay’s return to the Avalanche lineup Tuesday night went against the team mandate of a player needing to be 100 percent before returning from injury.
“This is a desperate situation for us though, so I want to be in there doing anything I can,” Tanguay said.
Tanguay did plenty to help Colorado’s playoff cause, scoring the first goal against the Phoenix Coyotes just 1:08 into the game, and assisting on a third Avs goal.
Tanguay said his right knee is not fully healed from a March 19 sprain. While there is no pain skating in a straight line, he said there is residual soreness when moving laterally.
Tanguay said the pain is tolerable and thinks he will be able to continue to play effectively into the playoffs. Coach Joel Quenneville indicated Tanguay was not rushed back into the lineup, saying he was medically cleared to play.
New mask on the way
Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore is wearing his mask from his days with the Montreal Canadiens – albeit with some painted- on Avs logos.
Theodore recently ordered a custom Avalanche mask, but the one delivered was not to his satisfaction. He hopes to have a new one soon.
Footnotes
The six goals allowed by Phoenix’s Phil Sauve marked the second time this season the former Avs goalie allowed six or more at the Pepsi Center. He allowed seven goals against Colorado on Jan. 24 with Calgary. … Quenneville said goalie Vitaly Kolesnik will remain with the Avs the rest of the season. … The Brampton Battalion, the junior team of Avalanche top prospect Wojtek Wolski, is one loss from playoff elimination after an 11-2 defeat to Barre in the Ontario Hockey League semifinals Tuesday night. Once Brampton’s season ends, the Avs will be free to recall Wolski.
