Avs Ready To Go After Lengthy Break

After a 16-day break, the Colorado Avalanche will finally return to the ice for a game when the Avs host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, January 2.

And they cannot wait.

The Avs last played on December 16 at Nashville. They were short-handed that game due to several last-minute positive COVID tests and have had seven games postponed.

Now that the NHL schedule is back up and going, the Avs are ready to get back to game action.

"Unfortunately we've been doing this now for a couple of years where we've had these breaks," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said after practice on New Year's Day.

The league postponed two games that Colorado was to have played against Dallas on Wednesday, December 29 and Friday, December 31 which gave the Avalanche a little extra time before playing again.

"We were ready to go and probably play those games [against Dallas]," Bednar said. "When they [postponed] those, we gave them a day off and repeated what we did over the first three days of this mini-camp. We were able to go through all of our systems and spend a bunch of time on power play and penalty kill."

"I feel good about where our team is at from a preparation standpoint and from a physical standpoint," Bednar added. "The guys are refreshed, they have lots of energy. They went through a couple of days where their legs probably weren't great and then the hands disappeared a little bit. But now with the six days of practice and some guys seven days in a row, we tapered it down as the week went on and guys are feeling good. We're excited to get back at it."

The Avs are nearly completely healthy with the main exception being forward Valeri Nichushkin, whom Bednar said recently aggravated an upper body injury in practice. Nichushkin will not be available for the game against the Ducks. Bednar said Nichushkin could be out seven to 10 days.

Colorado will get defenseman Bowen Byram back in the lineup on Sunday. Byram has been dealing with concussion-related issues and has not played since December 1. He played in only four games in November.

"I feel good," Byram said Saturday. "It's kind of a day-by-day thing at times but I feel like I've continued to progress and I'm ready to go. I'm excited to play. Hopefully I can stay in the lineup for an extended time."

Before this recent pause in play, the Avs were playing terrific hockey, winning five of their last six games and 13 of their last 17 going back to November 11.

Faceoff between the Avs and Ducks is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST on Sunday, January 2 at Ball Arena.

Comments from Avs defenseman Bowen Byram on Saturday, January 1.

Comments from Avs head coach Jared Bednar on Saturday, Janaury 1.