SAN JOSE, Calif. — Former San Jose forward Jamie McGinn was surrounded by reporters after the Avalanche morning skate Monday. McGinn has produced eight of his 20 goals for Colorado since the Feb. 27 trade that brought him to Denver.
He has gone from a third-line grinder to a top-six offensive threat and helped the Avalanche into a possible playoff position with five regular-season games remaining. He took the opening faceoff against his former team.
“It’s kind of a surreal moment when you are traded,” McGinn said while sitting in the visiting team’s locker room at HP Pavilion for the first time since training camp in September. “Now it’s just seeing your old teammates again and being back at the Shark Tank. This is a special building to me, and it was a lot of fun. The fans are energetic, and I enjoyed playing here.”
McGinn, 23, played 204 regular-season games for San Jose over four seasons. He has 12 points (eight goals) and is plus-3 in 13 games with the Avs, mostly playing left wing on the Paul Stastny-centered line with David Jones.
McGinn had dinner with former teammates Logan Couture, Ryane Clowe, Colin White, Jason Demers and Torrey Mitchell on Sunday night.
Asked if he might have struggled playing his hardworking, agitating style against the Sharks, he said: “Maybe a little bit but you’ve got to forget about it right away. You’ve got to continue to play hard every night no matter who you’re against. It’s hockey. Trades happen. You can be buddies off the ice, but once you’re on the ice, you’ve got to forget about it and worry about what’s ahead.
“There’s five games left. Every point’s important and I can’t take a night off.”
E.J. cleared. Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson said he was feeling “absolutely outstanding” after Monday morning’s skate. Because the Minnesota Golden Gophers advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four on Sunday, he was asked.
“That’s secondary,” Johnson said.
The Minnesota native and former Golden Gopher returned to the lineup after missing two games, during which the Avs only collected one point out of a possible four. Johnson suffered from back spasms.
“It was definitely hard being out, but with an injury like a back you have to make sure you’re ready to go,” Johnson said. ” It was an injury that really wasn’t fun to have, especially this time of year — it was really bad timing — but I owe a lot to the trainers for helping me get back.”
Johnson replaced rookie Tyson Barrie in the only lineup change from Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Vancouver.
Footnote. Former Avs forwards Daniel Winnik and TJ Galiardi had dinner with several Colorado players Sunday night. Winnik, who has scored a goal in each of San Jose’s previous two games, played his regular third-line role. Galiardi was scratched because of a back injury.
