Brandon Yip was part of the initial wave of Avs players into the dressing room after the morning skate Monday, a sure sign he would be in the lineup later that night.
For Yip, that has been a rare occurrence of late. Before Monday’s game, Yip had played only one game since Jan. 12. Passed over as a healthy scratch by coach Joe Sacco, Yip is trying to salvage what has been a disappointing sophomore season.
“It’s been going on awhile now (scratches). I’ve just got to try to get my game back and work hard,” Yip said.
Yip entered Monday without a goal in 13 consecutive games, with seven goals and 15 points overall in 40 games. His defensive numbers also have not been good — a minus-6 in the previous eight games.
“It’s tough. I’ve never been in this situation before, but a lot of guys have been helping me,” Yip said. “Hopefully, it’s going to come.”
It did. Yip scored two goals in the second period.
Forsberg update.
Peter Forsberg went through the morning skate with seemingly no issues, his third day on the ice since his bid to return to the NHL, most likely with the Avalanche.
Forsberg took a day off from the media but is expected to practice today and talk afterward.
Footnotes.
With Yip back in the lineup, the Avs scratched winger Kevin Porter. . . . Avs center Matt Duchene said his family will join him in Raleigh, N.C., for this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
