Avs Could Use Traditional Lineup Against Tampa Bay

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has not yet decided if he will continue to use the non-traditional lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen when his club faces the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
"We are on a day-to-day basis with that. It just depends on how guys are playing," he said. "Really our team kind of determines that. If we have seven D playing well and we like what they are doing and we have a forward that maybe isn't as good, then that's the guy likely to be scratched.

"We want to play our best lineup every night. If that's 12 and six or 11 and seven, then that's what we will do."
One benefit of playing 11 skaters up front is that center Nathan MacKinnon is able to play more without taking time away from another forward. It helped on Thursday night as he scored one of his two goals while double-shifting and played 22:03, a team high among forwards, in a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers.
"He has embraced that challenge of being the No. 1 center, and he is doing that," said Bednar. "More now because we are playing 11 forwards, and we are letting him double shift a little bit because he is our best offensive player. I think he lives for that. He is embracing the challenge and living in the moment and just trying to be a difference maker every night, which right now he is."
The Avs have used the non-conventional lineup for the past five games and has a 3-2-0 record during that time, but the club may go back to a traditional alignment versus the Lightning.
It is a possibility that forward Nail Yakupov will be able to play after missing a few games with an illness. He should be ready to return to the lineup, but Bednar said he has not yet made that decision. Yakupov skated for the first time since getting sick on Thursday at morning skate and was a full participant in Friday's practice at Family Sports Center.
One lineup decision that Bednar has made is his goaltender, as Jonathan Bernier will start in net for the Avalanche.
Bernier has played in 12 games for Colorado so far this season and is coming off a 39-save outing against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. The Avs defeated the Pittsburgh 2-1, with the Pens' lone goal coming with just 12 seconds remaining.

KERFOOT UPDATE

Rookie forward Alexander Kerfoot skated before practice in a red non-contact jersey but left the ice as the team session began.
He hurt his foot on Monday against the Penguins when he unintentionally got in the way of teammate Erik Johnson's shot.
"He skated a little bit before practice, but with his boot on he's still pretty sore," Bednar said. "So I would say he is doubtful for tomorrow."

AN AFTERNOON SPENT GIVING BACK

After practice, the players and coaches loaded up and went to visit pediatric patients at a local hospital.
The Avalanche visits local pediatric hospitals every December to brighten the day of some very special children and spread holiday cheer.
The team was able to visit patients' rooms, sign autographs, distribute Bernie stuffed animals and take pictures with the children and their families.