DALLAS — went through the morning skate with the Avalanche, but didn’t play in Colorado’s 3-2 loss to the at the American Airlines Center Thursday night. It was his third game out of the lineup after suffering a concussion against Winnipeg on Nov. 11.
“He skated with the group today,” Avalanche coach said after the morning skate. “But after yesterday’s practice, he still felt like he wasn’t ready to go. So he’s going to take another day or two here.”
Landeskog too. Captain , meanwhile, didn’t make the trip to Dallas with the team and is out with a lower body injury. He didn’t practice Wednesday and Bednar said that Landeskog was “dinged up,” was taking a maintenance day, and likely would play against Dallas. While that changed, the Avalanche said Landeskog could rejoin the Avalanche later on the three-game road trip, at Minnesota or Columbus.
“He’s back home getting treatment,” Bednar said. “He was at a doctor’s appointment when we were leaving. We knew that he was going to be out for today, and then he’s questionable moving forward, so we want to see how he progresses and then bring him with us if he’s ready to go.”
Landeskog took at least one noticeable hit in the Tuesday night win over Los Angeles, but he was on the ice in the final minutes and scored the Avalanche’s empty-net goal. He has four goals and four assists in 15 games this season.
Greer’s point. With Duchene and Landeskog out, A.J. Greer — recalled Wednesday from San Antonio for the second time in a week — started out the game against the Stars on the top line with center and winger . Greer, 19, played Sunday against Boston before going back to the Rampage.
Greer got his first NHL point, getting the second assist on ‘s third-period goal.
“It’s exciting,” Greer said after the game. “It was a great play by () to pass me the puck, and I gave it to Mac, and he put it in net and it was a great tip by Grigo. I’m happy I got that out of the way, but there’s still some work to do.”
Greer, the Avalanche’s second-round draft choice in 2015, after the morning skate said of going up, down and up this week: “Honestly, it’s been incredible. It happened in such a short time, short notice. My first game was an unbelievable feeling. It was something that I’ll never forget my whole life. So coming here and having the ability to show what I can do my second game is a huge statement. I’m looking to have a good game here.
“I want to do what I can to give this team a best shot to win, do what I can do as a 19-year-old to learn from the pros. There are some guys in this locker room I was watching when I was a kid and growing up, so it’s special for me.”
Another first. Grigorenko’s goal was his first of the season.
“That’s going to help get the confidence back,” Grigorenko said. “When you have the confidence, you keep making plays and you feel better. Hopefully, it’s going to get me going here and I can help the team more.”
Letter “A.” With Landeskog, the Avalanche captain, out, wore an “A,” joining MacKinnon and as an alternate captain.
The other room. Dallas coach Lindy Ruff wasn’t at all pleased with the Stars’ play.
“I thought we played 20 minutes,” he said. “Maybe a little bit more than that. . . I don’t think we played well enough, not even close to well enough. In fact, I thought it was embarrassing how we played.”
