CALGARY, Alberta — Jarome Iginla is back in a familiar spot, on the ice and in the standings.
The Avalanche entered Friday night’s game against the Flames in the final Western Conference playoff slot. Iginla always seemed to be chasing a playoff berth during his final years with the Flames.
“I know how it feels when you’re chasing other teams and you have to watch,” Iginla said. “You’ll notice the three-point games and the overtime losses, but it’s nice to just focus on ourselves and just have to win our share.”
He finished in the 7-to-10 range in five of his final six seasons in Calgary. The veteran forward believes a difficult stretch run can prepare a team for the grind of the postseason.
“Just as it was in Calgary, when we were able to win some near the end to make it, it means you’re playing some pretty good hockey so you’ve earned it,” Iginla said. “You’ve played under pressure, and you’re a little more battle tested when it comes to playoff time. It can be a real positive.”
Roster report. Matt Duchene didn’t play against the Flames because of a knee injury he suffered Wednesday at Vancouver.
“Status is going to be day to day,” Avs coach Patrick Roy said at the morning skate. “He hurt his knee last game, and we hope he will be able to recover pretty fast.”
Chris Bigras, a defenseman who had been sidelined with a concussion suffered March 5 against Nashville, played Friday.
Team captain Gabe Lande- skog will return Sunday at Edmonton after serving a three-game suspension for a reckless cross-check on Anaheim defenseman Simon Despres.
In place of Duchene, John Mitchell spent time on the top line with Iginla and Mikhail Grigorenko.
“The trades we made at the deadline, or just before, were in order to have more depth,” Roy said. “We feel that Mikael Boedker and Shawn Matthias are going to help us play some good hockey.”
