Avalanche defenseman Jonas Holos, one of only two Norwegian-born players in the NHL, along with New York Rangers winger Mats Zuccarello, will play tonight against the Detroit Red Wings because Kevin Shattenkirk is unavailable with a foot injury.
“The foot wasn’t ready to go this morning,” Colorado coach Joe Sacco said of Shattenkirk, the rookie from Boston University who took a shot to the foot against the New York Islanders Saturday.
With Shattenkirk out, Holos will be in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in nine of the 12 games since his mid-December recall from the Lake Erie Monsters.
“He’s played one game in the last bunch here,” Sacco said. “But we have confidence in him and I’m sure he’ll rise to the challenge and hopefully play well with this opportunity that he gets tonight.”
Sacco also confirmed that defenseman Kyle Cumiskey, who has been cleared for contact and has been practicing following his recovery from a concussion, will go on the upcoming trip to Chicago and Minnesota.
“Again, it’s day to day for him, a matter of getting timing and conditioning and getting back into shape,” Sacco said.
The Avalanche coach added that Chris Stewart, who has been skating in non-contact work, and again stayed out for conditioning work following the morning skate with Cumiskey, would begin full practice later this week. That likely will be Tuesday if the Avs practice that day before leaving for Chicago. Stewart has been out since suffering a broken hand against Minnesota on Nov. 27.
Jimmy Howard is scheduled to be the Detroit goalie tonight, opposing the Avalanche’s Peter Budaj. Detroit backup Chris Osgood, who earned his 400th career victory in Denver on Dec. 27, also got a win at Edmonton last Tuesday, but he now is out with a groin issue and Joey MacDonald was recalled from Grand Rapids on Sunday and will back up Howard tonight.
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
