Eurolanche

Crosby could return for Pens against Avs

Season series: The Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche each won a game in the other's building last season. Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog scored in a 1-0 win at Consol Energy Center on Oct. 21, 2013. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 39 saves in regulation and overtime, then stopped all three shootout attempts, in a 3-2 win at Pepsi Center on April 6.

Avalanche team scope: This is the start of a three-game road trip for Colorado, which is 1-3-2 in December. Defenseman Brad Stuart will return to the lineup from a hamstring injury; he last played Nov. 4. Forwards John Mitchell (leg) and Patrick Bordeleau (back) are close to returning. Bordeleau is looking to make his season debut after offseason back surgery. "Obviously I'm excited. It's been since April [that] I've played a real game," Bordeleau said, according to the Avalanche website. "I just hope I can help the boys to get them back on that road to the playoffs. I'm excited and anxious at the same time because I missed so many games." Goalie Calvin Pickard will start. Pickard is 4-5-1 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .927 save percentage that ranked fifth in the NHL entering Wednesday.

Penguins team scope: Forward Sidney Crosby, who has passed the infectious period for the mumps, began his preparations for a return Wednesday by skating on his own before practice. It's possible he could take the morning skate Thursday. Crosby has missed the past three games. "He looked good on the ice," coach Mike Johnston said, according to the Penguins website. "It was a full skate. He worked on some extra conditioning drills." Fleury and defensemen Olli Maatta and Robert Bortuzzo were being tested for mumps as a precaution. "We will probably get those results back in a three-day period," general manager Jim Rutherford said, according to the website. Forward Chris Kunitz (broken foot) skated Wednesday but hasn't been cleared to play. The Penguins are 3-0-2 in their past five games and have scored at least three goals in each. Forward Evgeni Malkin has three goals and four assists during a five-game point streak. Forward Steve Downie has two goals and three assists in his past four games.

-by Brian Hunter for NHL-