In its 4-1 loss to Vancouver on Friday, the Avalanche looked more like the Lake Erie Monsters than before — and that wasn’t necessarily another qualitative judgment of its play at the tail end of a desultory season.
Rather, it was about personnel.
With 11 players out because of injuries, the Avs recalled defenseman Wes O’Neill, 23, from the Cleveland-based American Hockey League affiliate, and he became the eighth player to make his NHL debut this season in a Colorado sweater.
Four others in the Avalanche lineup — defensemen Michael Vernace and Derek Peltier, plus forwards Matt Hendricks and T.J. Galiardi — all played their first NHL games this month.
Then, when center Wojtek Wolski arrived at the Pepsi Center two hours before the game and was deemed too ill to play, the Avalanche suited up only 17 skaters, one under the limit, including only 11 forwards.
Scoring.
Galiardi got Colorado’s only goal, giving the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 13:25 of the first period. “It’s always a special moment when you get your first (career) goal,” Galiardi said.
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
