Good injury news for the Avalanche? In this economy?
It's been rare this season for Colorado, but, apparently, it can happen. While Cale Makar was not one of the participants in Wednesday's optional practice, he walked around the facility without any noticeable limp.
That was probably a sign the Avalanche dodged a bullet, and Jared Bednar gave a relatively positive update on Makar before the team flew to Winnipeg for a game Thursday.
Lehkonen gives Avalanche a boost, but Makar injury lingers in win over Kraken
"He's OK," Bednar said of his star defenseman. "He's making the trip. Wants to see if he's feeling good enough to go (Thursday)."
That's a significantly better update than some of the ones Bednar has given this season. If Makar isn't feeling 100% on Thursday, the Avalanche won't hesitate to keep him out of the lineup, although this isn't exactly an ideal time for them to be without their best defenseman.
The opponent, the Jets, have been the best team in the NHL so far this season. It won't get easier Saturday when the Carolina Hurricanes, who are currently second to the Jets in points percentage, visit Ball Arena.
Your daily report on everything sports in Colorado - covering the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and columns from Woody Paige and Paul Klee.
Colorado will turn to Alexandar Georgiev against the Jets and hope he can turn his season around. Georgiev has given up three or more goals in each of his six starts. Justus Annunen will back up Georgiev, while Kaapo Kahkonen will stay in Denver.
Did Landeskog have a setback or not?
The situation with Gabriel Landeskog is as clear as mud. Colorado's bench boss went on Altitude Radio Wednesday and said calling Landeskog's current situations a setback "could be fair," but he wasn't quite ready to go there after practice.
"I don't know if you can call it that," he said. "I think there's ups and downs throughout the course of his rehab, especially now when he's feeling better and getting closer. He's pushing himself into different areas. I don't think it's anything unexpected."
Bednar went on to say that Landeskog will get back on the ice soon. The Avalanche put their captain on long-term injury reserve right before the season, meaning his cap hit is currently not on the books. If Lanskeskog did return and they activate him, there would have to be some real maneuvering to fit him back in.
Seeing how he hasn't skated in a while, they're probably a ways off from having to make a decision like that, if it even gets to that point.
