Before the NHL all-star break, Avalanche coach Tony Granato seemed certain Adam Foote would return to the lineup when the season resumed.
But Foote did not play in the first three games back and will not be in the lineup again tonight when the Avs host the Calgary Flames because of a setback in his rehabilitation from a triceps tear.
“He had some soreness after having some practices where there was contact,” Granato said. “We just have to be patient.”
The Avs, however, are impatient for a victory, and continuing to play without top players such as Foote, who has been out since Jan. 4, plus Paul Stastny and Joe Sakic, doesn’t make it any easier.
The Avs are 1-5 on their current eight-game homestand, losers of four straight.
“When you’re losing, it hurts. Let’s face it,” Granato said. “We’re not an organization that’s used to going through stretches like this. The only thing you can do is find a way to get out of it.”
After a one-game experiment that broke up his usual first line, Granato will go back to the trio of Wojtek Wolski, Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk against the Flames.
Wolski, 22, is battling an eight-game goal-scoring drought. He was a minus-3 in those eight games, though he did have four assists.
“It’s definitely frustrating. But we’ve been getting chances, some two-on-ones and other opportunities. We just haven’t capitalized,” Wolski said. “Losing so many games in a row like we have, it’s very painful.”
Wolski continues to enjoy playing center on the first line. The biggest thing he likes is the added responsibility. There is an air of confidence to the native of Poland that he’ll eventually put things together at the pivot.
“I’m learning,” he said. “But I like it. I like having the puck more, and I like being up the middle of the ice. It’s definitely a developmental stage of my career, but I think it’s a positive for me.”
Said Granato of Wolski: “We’re asking a lot of him, but we’re very happy with his effort and how hard he’s competing. He’s creating a lot of chances, and sometimes they go in, like they did early for him, and sometimes it’s tough to find a rhythm offensively, production-wise.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
Calgary at Colorado
7:30 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCKK 1510 AM
Spotlight on Mike Keenan: His reputation
as a coach suffered after several failed
stints with teams following a Stanley Cup
triumph with the New York Rangers in
1994. But Keenan has the Flames comfortably
on top in the Northwest Division entering
tonight’s contest with Colorado.
Avalanche notes: Peter Budaj will start in net for the second consecutive game. . . . Colorado has allowed a power-play goal in 10 straight games. One more game would tie the franchise record. . . . Center Paul Stastny (broken forearm) skated at length after practice Sunday and handled a puck throughout. He should return to the lineup within one to two weeks.
Flames notes: Miikka Kiprusoff is expected to start in net for Calgary. The Flames started backup Curtis McElhinney in their last visit to Denver, a 6-2 Avs win. Kiprusoff, with 30 wins this season, has a reasonable shot at Martin Brodeur’s NHL record of 48 victories.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
