Colorado Returns To Practice After NHL Holiday Break

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--The Colorado Avalanche held its first practice since the NHL Holiday Break at Family Sports Center on Thursday, a day after returning to action against the Arizona Coyotes.
The break in NHL action was from Dec. 24-26 and the Avs were one of the 22 teams that played on Wednesday, the first day back.

Colorado has played 13 games so far this month and will finish December with 15 contests, nine of those outings occurring in the Mile High City.
"[Getting rest] is huge. I mean its only three days, but it makes a huge difference when you are on the ice and you are used to being on the ice almost every single day," said rookie Tyson Jost. "I think we are fine here after that practice, and we aren't using that as an excuse for yesterday. We didn't play the way we wanted to, so we got to rebound against Toronto tomorrow."
The Avalanche fell 3-1 to the Arizona Coyotes at Pepsi Center on Wednesday and was outshot 20-13 in the first 40 minutes of the contest. Thursday's on-ice session lasted about 50 minutes and consisted of drills to help the team prepare to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

"I think after a practice like that, you get your legs back under you," said forward Matt Nieto. "After having a couple days off, it's kind of hard to pick up right where you left off. So, it was a good day today and we will be ready to go tomorrow."
The contest will be the second of Colorado's season-long six-game homestand, one that will bring the Avs into their bye week.
"It's one game at a time, but at the same time, we are focused on this homestand," said Jost. "It's a time that we can grab points. I think that's something that we have to come into every game. There's two points up for grabs. We need those two points if we want to be in the playoffs. That's our goal, and that's the standard we set for our team. We know every night is going to be a battle, and we have to come prepared."
The Avs are four points out of a playoff spot and have games in hand on most of the opponents ahead of them in the standings.
"Obviously, because of the break we have been out for a while so three days without any ice, and then we come back, and I don't think we played the way we wanted to yesterday," said Jost. "We just got to fix some bad habits. Get back to the way we were playing when we were playing a full 60 minutes. Playing as a team and playing good hockey and playing to the standard that we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. So, I think we had a good practice today and just reset and get back to the game."

For Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, starting the contest against the Maple Leafs with energy and sustaining it throughout the game will be the keys to Colorado's success.
"We have to have a good start against anyone, but tomorrows will be real important because we have struggled putting a 60 full minutes together here lately," said Bednar. "After looking at last night's tape, we got real competitive and real hungry in the third period and creating a lot of good chances.
"I think it just kind of shows what we can do when we come out with the right mindset and the details are tight and there's a certain level of desire to get the job done. That's what we need for 60 minutes tomorrow so the start will be important."
Friday's contest with Toronto will be the first game of the season between the teams, and the Maple Leafs' only trip to Pepsi Center this year.

LINEUP NOTES VS. TORONTO

On Thursday afternoon, the Colorado Avalanche announced that defenseman Andrei Mironov was recalled from the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar noted after practice that Colorado would be recalling a rear guard ahead of the Avs game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.
"We are looking at recalling somebody but as far as tomorrows lineup it will be the same six D," he said.
Colorado is without blueliner Tyson Barrie for the next four-to-six weeks after he suffered a hand injury while blocking a shot at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
In Wednesday's game against the Coyotes, left wing Gabriel Bourque was the scratched forward for the Avalanche and Semyon Varlamov was between the pipes. Looking to Toronto, Colorado has not decided if the front lines will consist of the same skaters, but Varlamov will get the start for the fifth straight game.
"We are still thinking about it and discussing that," Bednar said on if his forward lines will change. "Varly will go back in goal, and we are still talking about our lineup a little bit here."