It’s getting closer for Chris Stewart.
The injured Avalanche right wing stick-handled and skated Thursday morning with teammates, the first time he had done so since breaking his left hand in a Nov. 27 fight with Minnesota’s Kyle Brodziak.
Stewart still has not been cleared for full-contact practice and did not shoot any pucks, and coach Joe Sacco said there is no official timetable on his return. But with a four- to six-week prognosis given originally, it may only been another week or so before one of Colorado’s most important forwards is back.
“He’s making good progress,” Sacco said.
Cumiskey cleared.
Avs defenseman Kyle Cumiskey, who has missed the last 30 games with a concussion, has been cleared to resume full-contact practice starting today.
His return could pose a dilemma for Sacco about who to play in his defensive rotation, but he said it’s possible the team could carry eight healthy D-men, as it did much of last season.
“It’s a good situation to have, but we’ll see how it plays out,” Sacco said.
Footnotes.
Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov missed the game because of a family medical situation. He’s expected to return to the team today. . . . The Avalanche entered game No. 41 on their schedule with 21 wins, two fewer than it had at the halfway point last season (23-12-6). . . . Rookie Kevin Shattenkirk entered Thursday on an eight-game pointless streak. . . . Jonas Holos and David Koci were healthy scratches for Colorado. Left wing Cody McLeod missed another game with a groin injury. . . . Tomas Fleischmann played in his 300th NHL game.
