The Avalanche-Capitals game Friday night followed what might have been the biggest three-act, three-night concert series in Pepsi Center history — The Who on Tuesday, Carrie Underwood on Wednesday and Bruce Springsteen on Thursday.
Underwood’s husband, Mike Fisher, is a Nashville center.
This was the second time the Avalanche played in a building the night after Springsteen’s River Tour stop. Springsteen performed at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 29, the night before the Wild beat the Avs 6-3.
Colorado will be only two nights behind The Boss in Dallas next week. Springsteen is at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday, and the Avs play the Stars there Thursday.
Backstrom hurting. Although Washington coach Barry Trotz continued to avoid resting his top players with games off down the stretch, the Capitals were without standout center Nicklas Backstrom against the Avalanche after he suffered a minor injury Wednesday night against Philadelphia.
“He got banged up a little bit last game, so we’re going to keep him out just for precautionary reasons,” Trotz said.
Backstrom only minimally — and somewhat gingerly — participated in the skate.
Scratch report. With Matt Duchene returning to the lineup, the Avalanche again had 13 forwards available and winger Jack Skille was the healthy scratch.
The fourth line was the recently recalled Andrew Agozzino between Cody McLeod and Andreas Martinsen.
MacKinnon update. Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said Friday morning there was no change in Nathan MacKinnon’s situation, and that the young center still hadn’t skated since suffering a knee injury March 18 at Calgary.
Roy said he didn’t know whether that would change in the next few days. If that doesn’t, it’s unlikely MacKinnon will play again in the regular season.
