The Avalanche practiced for nearly two hours Monday before a 20-man contingent departed for Calgary, where Colorado visits the Flames in a preseason game Tuesday.
Young goalie Calvin Pickard, who led the NHL in save percentage at times last season, is set to start at Calgary in his first preseason action. Colorado, which will keep Pickard or Reto Berra as Semyon Varlamov’s backup and occasional starter, is 1-1-1 in the preseason.
Among those not expected to play Tuesday are the ones with day-to-day injuries: forwards Jarome Iginla, Dennis Everberg and Jack Skille — who each have hip ailments — and defenseman Andrej Meszaros (groin). Forward Jesse Winchester is out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms. Winchester suffered his head injury a year ago in a preseason game at Calgary and missed the entire season.
The Avalanche also signed forward Curtis Glencross to a professional tryout contract Monday. Glencross had been cut from his PTO deal with Toronto
The Avs, who open the season Oct. 8 at home against Minnesota, conclude the preseason with games Thursday at Anaheim and Saturday against Los Angeles in Las Vegas.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
