VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Defenseman Kyle Quincey was again scratched Wednesday night as Avalanche coach Joe Sacco appears unwilling to tinker with what’s working defensively right now.
Quincey, who suffered a concussion Nov. 6 against Dallas, has missed the last eight games, including five because of the injury.
Colorado entered Wednesday on a four-game winning streak.
“It starts from playing better defensively,” Sacco said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “We’re doing some good things 5-on-5 and (understanding that) you don’t have to sacrifice defense for offense. That’s what we’re preaching.
“Yes, we’re a team that likes to play an attack-mode style. We like to make sure we’re an aggressive forechecking team and that we’re trying to create turnovers in the offensive zone, but we really do believe it all stems from playing good defensively.”
McLean honored.
Pregame festivities included Avs goal- tending consultant Kirk McLean joining the Canucks’ “Ring of Honour,” a program to commemorate the franchise’s 40th anniversary.
McLean played most of his 16-year, 612-game NHL career in Vancouver, where he led the Canucks to an improbable run to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals against the Mark Messier-led New York Rangers.
Footnote.
The Avs left for Edmonton after the game and will play the struggling Oilers tonight. The Oilers, who have the worst record in the Western Conference, lost 5-0 at Phoenix on Tuesday and have not won consecutive games this season. “It’s a joke,” Ed- monton coach Tom Renney told Phoenix reporters. “An absolute travesty.”
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
