FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Every couple of games, a new whipping boy emerges from defense for fans to castigate and pin all the problems of the Avalanche on these days. As the team stumbles into Sunrise, Fla., for a Tuesday meeting with the Florida Panthers, Kyle Quincey is the latest piñata after a dismal showing Saturday in Tampa Bay.
Quincey’s three minor penalties were converted into two power-play goals by the Lightning in a 6-5 win over Colorado. Afterward, coach Joe Sacco matter-of-factly said Quincey needed to improve, but the question is whether he will become the latest D-man to descend into “healthy scratchdom.”
Before Quincey, Ryan Wilson was the piñata. After replacing Jonas Holos in the lineup, Wilson struggled at times with turnovers and penalties and took on the fans’ wrath. John-Michael Liles spent time as the piñata last season, even being a healthy scratch at times. Even Adam Foote has endured a few of those situations.
“When that happens, you just have to work hard and do what the coaches tell you and wait for your next chance,” Foote said.
Wilson has been a healthy scratch the past two games, but now it’s possible he could replace Quincey in the lineup for Tuesday game.
Or, if a large majority of fans had their way, Jonas Holos would be recalled from Lake Erie and take the ice time. But for reasons that have been only vaguely explained, Holos remains in Lake Erie of the AHL — despite going a plus-5 in the seven previous games he played for the Avalanche.
Quincey’s fall is somewhat startling, given how well he played for the Avs in the first half of last season after coming from Los Angeles in the Ryan Smyth trade. Quincey scored 38 points in 72 games for Los Angeles in 2008-09 and 29 for Colorado last season. So far, in 18 games, Quincey is still without a point.
Compounding that have been the penalties and power-play goals against.
Sacco benched Quincey for a short time last season, and it will be interesting to see Tuesday whether he is back on the sideline or gets another chance to work his way out of it.
“I’m just going to keep playing as hard as a can, and hopefully I can get a break or two here coming up,” Quincey said.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
