St. Louis – Milan Hejduk was supposed to have a big, comeback season with the Avalanche. It isn’t happening yet.
Hejduk’s struggles continued Saturday night in St. Louis, where he entered the game scoreless in his previous five games and with two goals in his previous 11. Making $3.8 million in the second year of a five-year, $19.5 million contract, Hejduk got off to a good start, with six goals in his first 11 games.
Hejduk was part of a power-play unit that failed to get anything past Blues goalie Manny Legace on a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:48 in the second period, and his tripping penalty later in the period led to Lee Stempniak’s power-play goal for the Blues.
Avs winger Marek Svatos, also counted on to have a big season, entered Saturday without a point in five straight games. His most recent goal came Nov. 30 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Avs coach Joel Quenneville praised Hejduk for still getting scoring chances – he led the Avs with four shots on goal against St. Louis – but didn’t say much about Svatos in a positive light.
Svatos had one shot on net and played just a little more than 10 minutes.
“We need them to be threats,” Quenneville said. “We’re definitely looking for production from someone other than (Joe Sakic’s) line.”
Injury updates
The Avs played without defenseman Patrice Brisebois and forward Brett McLean. Both are listed with back injuries, and they won’t play Monday in Nashville, Tenn., either.
They remained in Denver and could play in Friday’s game against Tampa Bay at the Pepsi Center.
The Avs said defenseman Jordan Leopold (groin) is out until at least the middle of January, but he is progressing well in his recovery.
Footnotes
Rookie defenseman Kyle Cumiskey, recalled Thursday by the Avs, was a healthy scratch. … The Avs will practice this morning at the Scottrade Center before departing for Nashville.
