Appearing significantly loose and upbeat after Saturday night’s 3-0 season-opening loss to the Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center, the Avalanche practiced for 45 minutes this morning before it embarked for Boston to begin a five-game road trip Monday against the Bruins.
The Avs’ Columbus Day matinee against the defending Stanley Cup champions is followed by games at Columbus on Wednesday, Ottawa on Thursday, Montreal on Saturday and Toronto on Oct. 17.
Colorado’s next home game is Oct. 20.
“It’s a five-game road trip and we still have 76 games when we get back. A lot of hockey when we get back,” Avs coach Joe Sacco said. “But I look at it as an opportunity for the guys to bond, to form some good team chemistry, because that’s what you do on the road.”
Seven players are in their first season with Colorado, not including Peter Mueller, who didn’t play last season because of injury. Two others joined the club late last season.
“You spend a lot of time with your teammates, almost 2-4/7, so we need to use the (upcoming) games and those days as a time for our team to get some closeness and get tight together,” Sacco said. “The journey is just beginning… But if we can have some success on the road out there it would certainly make our guys feel better about themselves and more confident.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
