Not a single roster move was made Saturday by the Avalanche, but it still looked like an entirely new team at practice.
One day after an embarrassing 6-1 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Avs coach Tony Granato mixed up all four of his forward lines, including moving Wojtek Wol- ski from left wing to center and making Milan Hejduk a left wing on a line with Wol- ski. The Avs will try to break a two-game losing streak — with two goals in that span — against division foe Minnesota tonight at the Pepsi Center.
“When things don’t go well and you’re not creating enough offense, you try and mix it up a little bit,” Granato said.
Wolski will play a regular shift at center for the first time since the 2005 playoffs, and he couldn’t be happier about it. Center, after all, was the position he played growing up, including in junior hockey. He played center for the Avs after being called up for the playoff run, but when he came to training camp later that fall, coach Joel Quenne- ville had him listed at left wing on the line charts. Wol- ski didn’t ask any questions.
“We had so many good centers on our team, you can’t really complain or think about where you’re playing. I don’t think you have much choice when you’re coming into the NHL as a 19-year-old,” Wol-ski said. “I don’t think you’d even be sitting on a bench (if you complained); I think you’d be sitting in a seat somewhere more comfortably, in the arena.”
Tyler Arnason, who was given a chance at No. 1 center after Paul Stastny broke his forearm, was dropped back to the third line, between Darcy Tucker and Marek Svatos. T.J. Hensick will take Arnason’s place, on a line between Ryan Smyth and Chris Stewart. Veteran Brian Willsie will return to the lineup for his first game since Dec. 4, when he sprained a knee against Nashville, and he will skate at right wing on a line with Ian Laperriere and Cody McLeod.
Laperriere called out his team for its work ethic after Friday’s loss to the Blue Jackets, and wasn’t backing off those sentiments Saturday.
“There’s a fine line between working hard and smart, and working hard and dumb. Sometimes, you think you’re working hard and maybe you are, but in the wrong way,” said Laperriere, who is playing center these days, the position he played his first six years in the NHL. “(Friday), it was a matter of individual preparation. There’s only so much they can do as a coaching staff. It’s got to come down to us, knowing what your job is out there and doing it as best as you can. Don’t worry about the other guy’s job, do your own job and everything’s going to be fine.”
Said Granato: “I’m sure we’ll be better (tonight). I’m sure we’ll be better right from the start, all the way through. I’m looking forward to the game.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
Minnesota at Colorado
6 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCKK 1510 AM/KRCN 1060 AM
Spotlight on Brent Burns: Young, big, fast and skilledBurns, 23, has all the tools to become an all-star in the NHL. The 6-foot-5 defenseman’s numbers have been down a bit so far this season, though, so it appears doubtful he’ll play in this month’s All-Star Game in Montreal.
Avalanche: Peter Budaj will get the start in net. Budaj has lost four of his last six starts and has seen his save percentage dip to .899. . . . Barring any illness or injury, Ben Guite figures to be a healthy scratch tonight. The fourth-line center has not scored a point and is minus-1 in seven games since returning from injury Dec. 18. . . . Center Tyler Arnason has gone 27 straight games without a goal.
Wild: Things have gotten a little testy around the Wild dressing room of late. Management and a few players have been sniping back and forth in the media, and star winger Marian Gaborik reportedly got into a heated exchange with Wild general manager Doug Risebrough over Gaborik’s decision to have hip surgery Monday in Vail at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic. Risebrough indicated he would have preferred that Gaborik postpone the surgery, perhaps until after the season. But Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, said his client was told by clinic doctors that he would risk further injury by playing. . . . Minnesota entered Saturday’s game against Detroit 3-6-1 in its previous 10 games. Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
