ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—The injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche, already missing captain Joe Sakic, lost two more leaders for at least a game.
Top defenseman Adam Foote and gritty enforcer Ian Laperriere won’t make the trip to Nashville for a contest against the Predators on Tuesday night.
Foote sustained a triceps injury Sunday night in a 2-0 loss against Minnesota. He’ll be re-evaluated later this week. Laperriere has a stiff back and is listed as day-to-day.
The team will be without two experienced veterans, both serving as alternate captains on the ice.
With Foote’s health in question, the Avalanche called up defenseman Kyle Cumiskey on Monday from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League affiliate. It’s his third recall this season.
The injuries continue to pile up for the reeling Avalanche, who’ve dropped three in a row.
Sakic, already out with back problems, broke three fingers in a freak snow blower accident last month. Soon after, Paul Stastny fractured his right forearm after being hit by a slapshot.
They’re both still a long ways away from a return to the rink.
“Every team has their problems with injuries,” forward Darcy Tucker said. “It’s how you cope with them and battle through it.”
Colorado coach Tony Granato has been tinkering around with the lineup, moving Wojtek Wolski to center from his customary wing position, as well as juggling around other line combinations.
He’s trying to create more offensive sizzle in the absence of Sakic and Stastny.
So far, no luck.
The Avalanche have been outscored 11-2 over their last three games, including being blanked by Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom on Sunday night. It’s the first time in 61 regular season and playoff meetings the Wild have held Colorado scoreless.
“Backstrom played well. He made some big saves,” Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj said. “We competed, we put some pucks on net—just didn’t get the bounce we needed … There’s not any recipe (to scoring)—just play.”
Colorado has been relying on younger players like T.J. Hensick, David Jones and Chris Stewart to contribute on offense. The trio has combined for 11 goals this season.
However, Stewart took a shot off the skate Sunday night, bruising his foot. Granato thought he’d play in Nashville.
The team can’t afford to lose anymore offensive firepower.
“You look at it as a challenge,” Granato said of the injury situation. “You look at it as an opportunity for you to find out who’s going to step up.”
Any chance of a trade to bring in more scoring help?
“If there’s a chance for us to get better and do the right move, we always do it,” Granato said. “But to force it, just say you have to do it—you can’t do it. That’s not the way you play the game. That’s not what’s going to help in the long run.
“What’s going to help in the long run is fighting through it.”
