Faceoff, November 10

Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, November 10, 2007

NUMBERS GAME

$214 million is the value of the Avalanche franchise, according to rankings by Forbes magazine. Colorado ranked eighth among the 30 franchises; its value dropped 3 percent from about $221 million a year ago. As recently as 2004, Forbes pegged the Avs' worth at $246 million.

HOMECOMING KING

Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving to the suburb of Burnaby when he was 5 years old, always has enjoyed playing in front of friends and family - and his statistics reflect it. He has scored 94 points in 75 career games against the Canucks. The only other team he has victimized more is Calgary.

Team G Goals Ast Pts Pts/Game

Calgary 77 39 62 101 1.30

Vancouver 75 30 64 94 1.25

Edmonton 77 34 55 89 1.16

Carolina 61 27 52 79 1.30

Montreal 62 22 57 79 1.27

REHABILITATION DEBUT

Forward Brad Richardson is set to play in his first rehabilitation game tonight for the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League. Richardson, a key member of Colorado's penalty-kill unit last season, injured his left wrist during training camp and finally was cleared to play earlier this week.

"We don't want to pinpoint exactly how long he's going to be," coach Joel Quenneville said. "His play will dictate that - and our needs, at the same time." With Richardson out, Ben Guite has asserted himself as one of the Avalanche's top penalty killers. He also has contributed on offense of late, recording a goal and three assists in four games entering play Friday. "Benny's got that sandpaper to him that it's nice to see," Quenneville said.

HE SAID IT

"If anyone wants to play until he's 45 or 50 like (Detroit defenseman Chris) Chelios, Joe's the next-best candidate."

Ian Laperriere, Avalanche forward on 38-year-old Sakic.