Eurolanche

Landeskog returns for Avs against Oilers

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche have defeated the Edmonton Oilers twice: 5-1 at home on Dec. 19 and 3-2 at Edmonton on Feb. 20. Defensemen Tyson Barrie has three goals, including two game-winners, and two assists for Colorado. Forward Taylor Hall leads Edmonton with a goal and an assist.

Avalanche team scope: There were no updates on forwards Matt Duchene (knee) and Nathan MacKinnon (knee), and defenseman Eric Gelinas (elbow) on Saturday. Colorado recalled forward Mikko Rantanen from San Antonio of the American Hockey League. Duchene missed a 4-3 shootout win against the Calgary Flames on Friday, and Gelinas and MacKinnon left that game. Coach Patrick Roy said Gelinas was out indefinitely and MacKinnon would be re-evaluated Saturday. Captain Gabriel Landeskog will return after a three-game suspension. Goalie Semyon Varlamov is expected to make his sixth straight start; he has won four of his past five games.

Oilers team scope: Goalie Cam Talbot is expected to start; he has started six of the past seven, has won back-to-back games, and made 40 saves in a 2-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. Talbot is 7-2-1 in his past 10 starts with a .948 save percentage. Defensemen Oscar Klefbom (leg), Andrew Ference (hip), Eric Gryba (knee), Brandon Davidson (knee), Adam Pardy (hand) and forward Benoit Pouliot (shoulder) are out. The Oilers did not practice Saturday. After the win Friday, coach Todd McLellan singled out the play of rookie defensemen Griffin Reinhart and Jordan Oesterle. "I think that pair has been pretty steady since we've put them together," McLellan told the Oilers website. "They both played big minutes, they penalty killed."

 -- by Tim Wharnsby  for NHL.com --