EDMONTON, Alberta — The Avalanche players hope they discovered better team chemistry at a bowling alley.
The Avs spent Wednesday’s day off in Edmonton bowling, hoping the slippery hardwood was a good place to get their minds off a three-game losing streak they took into Thursday’s game against the Oilers.
“It was fun. Sometimes that’s what you need to do as a team,” Avs center Tyler Arnason said.
According to Arnason, Wojtek Wolski was the top bowler among the players.
Liles back. Avs defender John-Michael Liles was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Tuesday night.
Rookie Kyle Cumiskey was benched in favor of Liles. Jaroslav Hlinka and Scott Parker were the other healthy scratches.
Avs defenseman Jordan Leopold, out with a fractured wrist, stickhandled with the puck at practice Thursday morning. Coach Joel Quenneville said he could return a little sooner than expected, perhaps by mid-December.
Baizley: No change. Don Baizley, agent for former Av Peter Forsberg, says there is nothing new to report about his client.
Baizley told reporters at the game what he said he tells the many teams that call him about Forsberg’s potential playing status: “We just don’t know right now,” he said. “His foot will determine that, and right now he doesn’t feel it’s good enough to play at the level he’s accustomed.”
Footnotes. Karlis Skrastins’ goal was his first since Dec. 26, 2005, against Phoenix, a stretch of 120 games. Joe Sakic gave a deadpan answer when asked why he hadn’t scored in 10 straight games entering Thursday: “I shoot the puck, goalie makes the save.”
Three stars
1. Paul Stastny. Had two assists for the Avs and was a plus-2, with four shots on goal.
2. Ales Hemsky. Had a goal and assist for the Oilers and nearly tied it late in the game.
3. John-Michael Liles. Had an assist for the Avs and was good with the puck overall.
What you might have missed
The Avs won 57 percent of the faceoffs (32-for-56).
Granato the Kegler
Avs assistant coach Tony Granato led all players and coaches with a score of 213 in the team’s bowling outing Wednesday.
Up next
Calgary, 5 p.m., Saturday at the Pepsi Center
