The Avalanche will play its most important game in nearly two years tonight against the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center.
Avs rookie Matt Duchene is looking forward to it.
“It’s going to be fun. I always enjoy games like this,” said Duchene, the NHL’s leading rookie scorer. “It’s pretty much a playoff game tonight. I’ve been a guy, all throughout my career, has loved to play in the playoffs.”
The Avs are two points ahead of the ninth-place Flames in the race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot, but have lost three games in a row.
Coach Joe Sacco will tweak his lineup tonight, with the additions of Brandon Yip and Stephane Yelle to the mix.
The Avs will also bench veteran Ruslan Salei, along with Brett Clark, on defense. Kyle Quincey will take Salei’s spot in the lineup.
Forward Matt Hendricks (head injury) skated this morning but won’t play tonight.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com and
