Peter Forsberg declared himself ready to return to the Colorado lineup, and defensemen Adam Foote and Jordan Leopold also could be available.
"Yeah, Peter is back, 'Footer' is likely and 'Leo' is better," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We're going to get some guys back."
Forsberg has missed four consecutive games because of a groin injury but practiced Sunday and pronounced himself ready for tonight.
"I'll be back in the lineup," Forsberg said.
Foote also took part in a full practice Sunday. He hasn't suited up for four of the past five games because of a hip injury.
"It's getting better," Foote said.
Leopold has been sidelined by a head injury and has missed three games but he, too, has been practicing.
If Foote and Leopold return, the Avs will have eight healthy defensemen on the roster.
Northwest passage
Colorado, with nine games remaining in the regular season, begins a three-game Northwest Division trip tonight in Minnesota.
The Avs will play at Calgary on Thursday and Edmonton on Saturday. They began this week in a tight battle for the Northwest Division title and were sixth in the Western Conference standings.
Minnesota, Calgary and Colorado each have 84 points, but the Wild and Flames have played one fewer game.
Vancouver, also with one game at hand, has 82 points, and there's little doubt that every game the rest of the season will be important for division and conference standings.
"It's a great time of year," center Tyler Arnason said. "At training camp, you hope to be in this position going into the last nine games."
Center Ben Guite agrees.
"Nobody likes to play in a game in March that doesn't mean anything," he said. "Everybody wants to play for a reason and usually for a playoff spot. When you're playing street hockey when you are a kid, you say this is the seventh game of the Stanley Cup in overtime. This is a good part of that scenario."
He said it
"We've been part of these games all year. Every game has been very meaningful, but this is crunch time and when it is going to make a difference between getting in or out of the playoffs."* Injuries: Colorado - D Brett Clark (shoulder surgery) and RW Marek Svatos (knee) are on injured reserve. RW Scott Parker (ankle sprain) is out. D Jordan Leopold (head) and D Adam Foote are day to day. Minnesota - LW Derek Boogaard (back) is on injured reserve. C Eric Belanger (leg) and D Petteri Nummelin (thigh) are day to day.
* Sidelight: Joe Sakic needs one assist to become the 11th player in NHL history to record 1,000 career assists.
* Notes: Brunette has collected 14 points in 11 of the past 13 games, (six goals and eight assists). . . . Colorado is 2-3-0 against the Wild this season. . . . The Wild hasn't scored more than three goals since Feb. 17 in a 5-4 (overtime) home win against Nashville. During that 13-game span, the Wild is averaging 1.92 goals per game (25 goals) while allowing 33 goals. . . . Gaborik has gotten eight points in his past eight games . . . . Colorado has the league's worst power-play record on the road (11.2 percent) and will be facing a Minnesota team with the NHL's fifth-best penalty kill at home (85.5 percent). . . . Colorado has gone 8-2-0 the past 10 games, while the Wild is 4-3-3. . . . Jose Theodore will be in goal for Colorado.
"Yeah, Peter is back, 'Footer' is likely and 'Leo' is better," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We're going to get some guys back."
Forsberg has missed four consecutive games because of a groin injury but practiced Sunday and pronounced himself ready for tonight.
"I'll be back in the lineup," Forsberg said.
Foote also took part in a full practice Sunday. He hasn't suited up for four of the past five games because of a hip injury.
"It's getting better," Foote said.
Leopold has been sidelined by a head injury and has missed three games but he, too, has been practicing.
If Foote and Leopold return, the Avs will have eight healthy defensemen on the roster.
Northwest passage
Colorado, with nine games remaining in the regular season, begins a three-game Northwest Division trip tonight in Minnesota.
The Avs will play at Calgary on Thursday and Edmonton on Saturday. They began this week in a tight battle for the Northwest Division title and were sixth in the Western Conference standings.
Minnesota, Calgary and Colorado each have 84 points, but the Wild and Flames have played one fewer game.
Vancouver, also with one game at hand, has 82 points, and there's little doubt that every game the rest of the season will be important for division and conference standings.
"It's a great time of year," center Tyler Arnason said. "At training camp, you hope to be in this position going into the last nine games."
Center Ben Guite agrees.
"Nobody likes to play in a game in March that doesn't mean anything," he said. "Everybody wants to play for a reason and usually for a playoff spot. When you're playing street hockey when you are a kid, you say this is the seventh game of the Stanley Cup in overtime. This is a good part of that scenario."
He said it
"We've been part of these games all year. Every game has been very meaningful, but this is crunch time and when it is going to make a difference between getting in or out of the playoffs."* Injuries: Colorado - D Brett Clark (shoulder surgery) and RW Marek Svatos (knee) are on injured reserve. RW Scott Parker (ankle sprain) is out. D Jordan Leopold (head) and D Adam Foote are day to day. Minnesota - LW Derek Boogaard (back) is on injured reserve. C Eric Belanger (leg) and D Petteri Nummelin (thigh) are day to day.
* Sidelight: Joe Sakic needs one assist to become the 11th player in NHL history to record 1,000 career assists.
* Notes: Brunette has collected 14 points in 11 of the past 13 games, (six goals and eight assists). . . . Colorado is 2-3-0 against the Wild this season. . . . The Wild hasn't scored more than three goals since Feb. 17 in a 5-4 (overtime) home win against Nashville. During that 13-game span, the Wild is averaging 1.92 goals per game (25 goals) while allowing 33 goals. . . . Gaborik has gotten eight points in his past eight games . . . . Colorado has the league's worst power-play record on the road (11.2 percent) and will be facing a Minnesota team with the NHL's fifth-best penalty kill at home (85.5 percent). . . . Colorado has gone 8-2-0 the past 10 games, while the Wild is 4-3-3. . . . Jose Theodore will be in goal for Colorado.
