It\u2019s difficult to run a full practice with only five defensemen. Jared Bednar figured that out on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
After taking a few days off, the Avalanche returned to the ice for the first time after taking down the Minnesota Wild in five games. While one player returned to practice, several others were missing.<\/p>\n
Sam Malinski, who missed the final two games against the Wild, skated in a non-contact jersey and made it through the entirety of Colorado\u2019s relatively short first practice as they prepare for the Vegas Golden Knights. Malinski is reportedly dealing with an upper-body injury, but looked no worse for wear, skating fluidly and ripping shots at the net. The only thing he did not do was take contact, which may happen in the coming days, given how much longer the Avalanche have to wait for Game 1, but at least on Saturday, he looked like a player trending in the right direction ahead of this series.<\/p>\n
Malinski\u2019s presence was great, but several other key players were not on the ice. Josh Manson, who missed four games with an upper-body injury, was on the ice before practice began but exited when the rest of the team got on the ice. Also missing were defensemen Cale Makar and Brent Burns, and forward Artturi Lehkonen, who hasn\u2019t played since Game 3 in Minnesota. With so many defensemen missing from practice, forward Jack Drury often filled in to help out on the blueline.<\/p>\n
At this point, Makar\u2019s issues have been well documented, as he grabbed his right shoulder multiple times during Wednesday\u2019s Game 5. Burns is a new absence, and after practice, Bednar was vague on the status of all the injured players.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all dealing with stuff and they\u2019re day-to-day,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cI think some of them will practice in the time we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given that Makar and Burns have not missed any games this postseason, it would seem likely they\u2019ll be good to go until proven otherwise. Lehkonen\u2019s absence continues to be a mystery. He finished Game 3 and was on the ice for morning skate ahead of Game 4, only to be a late scratch before the game. His absence looms large as someone whom Bednar uses in all situations.<\/p>\n
Vegas appears to also be dealing with injuries of their own, as captain Mark Stone didn\u2019t skate at their practice on Saturday. He missed the final three games of their series against the Anaheim Ducks. Physical defenseman Jeremy Lauzon also did not skate. Their status for the start of the Western Conference Final remains in question.<\/p>\n
While the Avalanche begin to dig into the Golden Knights more over the coming days, one thing is apparent.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re not looking past Vegas at all.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Vegas) is a really good team,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cThis is a team that has now gotten healthier with the addition of (William) Karlsson back in their lineup. They\u2019re a super deep forward group, half their team has won a Stanley Cup right after our guys won it. It\u2019s an experience group. You\u2019re not going to be able to rattle them. They\u2019re very well defined in the structure of their game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Avalanche will practice on Sunday before taking Monday off.<\/p>\n
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