Today’s pregame skate at the Pepsi Center was less nerve-wracking for Avalanche rookie defenseman Tyson Barrie, who made his NHL debut in the Avs’ 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Barrie is looking forward to less stress and more confidence for his second game tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes inside the same building.
“I’m settled in now, got a few practices and that first game out of the way,” Barrie said this morning after a 30-minute skate. “My feelings right now aren’t quite what they were before the first game. I’m still super-excited and a little nervousj, but I know what to expect and it makes it a little easier.”
Just 10 skaters and backup goalie Semyon Varlamov participated in today’s optional skate — a sign that the regular-season stretch run has arrived. Just 27 of 82 games remain.
“Lazy team, eh?” Avs defenseman Shane O’Brien joked while taking off his skates, as the rest of the team was kicking a soccer ball in the hallway or seeking treatment. “It is the stretch run.”
Carolina is last in the Eastern Conference, with 50 points, but is unbeaten in regulation during its past three games.
“For us right now it doesn’t really matter who we play,” O’Brien said. “The last couple of games have probably been maybe the best (two) 60 minutes we’ve played all year. We just have to find to play consistently every game. If we continue to play that way, and Jiggy (goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere) continues to be great for us, we’re a pretty good team.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
