Eurolanche

Avalanche try to remain unbeaten

Both Joe Sakic and Josh Kroenke will join the team on the road trip. Here is a preview of tonight’s game. Gabe Landeskog was back on the ice yesterday and was practicing back with his usual line mates, Paul Stastny and Alex Tanguay. He missed one game due to a minor knee injury which he suffered in the season opener against the Ducks after colliding with Corey Perry.

Also taking part of the full practice was Ryan Wilson, who should play during the road trip, however will take the night off as Roy does not want to rush his return. With Landeskog back in the picture, Marc Andre Cliche will likely be the healthy scratch for the forwards.

Here is what the lines will look like:

O’Reilly – Duchene – Downie

Landeskog – Stastny – Tanguay

McGinn – MacKinnon – Parenteau

McLeod – Mitchell – Bordeleau 

Hejda – Johnson

Barrie – Guenin

Sarich – Benoit 

Semyon Varlamov

Semyon Varlamov will be getting his third straight start to and will have the night off on Thursday when the Avs face Boston. 

Tonight's opponent will be without Frazer McLaren, Mark Fraser and Nikolai Kulemin all out due to injuries. David Clarkson, Toronto’s big signing this past off-season, will miss his fourth consecutive game due to his 10 game suspension for leaving the bench to join an altercation against the Buffalo Sabres. 

Here are the lines which were used by the Leafs during yesterday’s practice:

Van Riemsdyk – Bozak – Kessel

Lupul – Bolland – Raymond

McClement – Kadri – Bodie

Orr – Smith – Aston 

Phaneuf – Gunnarsson

Rielly – Franson

Gardiner – Ranger 

James Reimer*

Maple Leafs’ coach Randy Carlyle did not yet mention who the starting goalie will be however, expect Jonathan Bernier, who idolized Patrick Roy as a child, to be getting the nod. 

Dave Bolland’s line will be the one to watch out for and they combined for 5 goals and 11 points in just three games, averaging only 16:15 of ice time per game.

Spotlight on: Steve Downie has one goal and an assist along with 15 PIMs in two games after missing all but two games last season due to a torn ACL. Both he and Roy mentioned he is playing on the edge and after a huge hit to Roman Josi of the Nashville Predator’s, will be on watch from both the refs and the coaches to ensure he does not step out of line.