Facing a win-or-go-home scenario, the Avalanche will mix up its lineup again in what coach Joe Sacco hopes will spark his team to a Game Six victory and a seventh and deciding game against the San Jose Sharks.
Colorado, down 3-2 in its first-round series, plays the Sharks tonight at the Pepsi Center. Sacco will try Brandon Yip on the top line with Paul Stastny and TJ Galiardi, and will play Matt Hendricks and Chris Stewart on the second line with center Matt Duchene.
Colorado will skate a third line of Ryan O’Reilly, Darcy Tucker and Marek Svatos.
Avs winger Peter Mueller (concussion) skated this morning, but Sacco said he would not play tonight.
“We don’t want to be a team that was just happy to be here or to take San Jose to six or seven games,” Sacco said. “We want to win. You never know when you’re going to get a chance again to win, to be in this position in the playoffs.”
The Avs will also be without forwards Milan Hejduk (head) and David Jones (torn anterior cruciate).
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com and
