COLUMBUS, Ohio — Because winger David Jones’ back stiffened up, the Avalanche skated a forward short for the later stages of the second period and all of the third in a 4-3 loss to Columbus on Tuesday night.
Jones had been on the Tyler Arnason-centered third line and was coming off a two-goal game against Pittsburgh on Saturday. After the game, Colorado coach Tony Granato said he hoped Jones would improve and possibly be available for Thursday’s game at St. Louis.
Center Ben Guite was a healthy scratch Tuesday, so if Jones remains sidelined and the Avs don’t call up another forward from Lake Erie, Guite likely will step into the lineup against the Blues.
Idle time.
It’s possible that the next time Avalanche defenseman Kyle Cumiskey plays, it will be in the American Hockey League’s All-Star Game.
On Tuesday, Cumiskey was a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game since his recall from the Lake Erie Monsters. He has been selected to play in the Jan. 26 AHL game, and if he’s still with Colorado, the Avalanche plans to send him back down to the Monsters, even if only briefly, so he could suit up in that game.
Granato said he didn’t believe Cumiskey, 22, would be better off getting major ice time with the Monsters than he is watching games in street clothes with the Avalanche.
“For one, we know that if he needs to get in the lineup, he’ll help us,” Granato said. “The way the (other) six have played we can’t change and pull one of them out to get him in there. He’ll get in a game soon. He was playing extremely well (in Cleveland), that’s why he’s up here.”
Cumiskey also could be sent back down before the coinciding all-star breaks — the NHL game is Jan. 25 in Montreal — if Adam Foote, on the injured list with a triceps injury, is able to return to the lineup soon and the other six Avalanche defensemen remain healthy.
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
