Avalanche recalls Richardson

Rocky Staff And Wire Reports

Published December 3, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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The Avalanche recalled forward Brad Richardson from the American Hockey League Lake Erie Monsters on Sunday and placed defenseman Kurt Sauer on injured reserve because of a neck injury.

Richardson first was recalled by the Avalanche on Nov. 15 and had one goal in five games before being reassigned to Lake Erie on Thursday. Richardson missed the first month this season because of a wrist injury. He was cleared to play Nov. 7 and assigned to Lake Erie.

Sauer injured himself Friday at San Jose. He had a goal and five assists in 24 games.

ETC.: Toronto writers are calling for the ouster of Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson Jr. with the team sagging in the standings. The Leafs have the league's most expensive, and most porous, defense corps . . . . Toronto captain Mats Sundin broke the 83-year-old team record for longest season- opening home point streak during a 4-2 win against Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Sundin had an assist to give him at least one point in each of the Leafs' first 15 home games.

Sharks at Avalanche

* When: 7 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

* TV/Radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

* Leading scorers

San Jose (12-8-4) G A Pts.

C Joe Thornton 11 18 29

C Jeremy Roenick 6 7 13

LW Milan Michalek 7 4 11

C Patrick Marleau 4 7 11

D Craig Rivet 1 9 10

Coach:

Ron Wilson

Colorado (14-10-1) G A Pts.

C Paul Stastny 10 21 31

C Joe Sakic 7 15 22

LW Ryan Smyth 8 9 17

LW Wojtek Wolski 8 9 17

RW Milan Hejduk 8 9 17

RW Andrew Brunette 4 13 17

Coach:

Joel Quenneville * Injuries: San Jose - LW Ryan Clowe (knee), C Marcel Goc (back) and D Brad Norton (back) are out. Colorado - D Jordan Leopold (wrist) and Kurt Sauer (neck) are out; RW Ian Laperriere (knee), Sakic (groin) and RW Marek Svatos are day to day.

* Sidelight: Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy tonight for the U.S. Marine Corps' annual Toys for Tots drive.

* Notes: The Avalanche didn't practice Sunday after a red-eye flight from Los Angeles after its 5-2 win Saturday. . . . The Avalanche and Sharks split the first two meetings this season, with the Avalanche winning 6-2 on Oct. 7 at home and the Sharks winning 3-2 on Friday in San Jose. . . . Avalanche defensemen have totaled two goals, 12 assists and 41 shots on goal during the past five games. . . . The Colorado/Quebec franchise has registered 998 regular-season wins since the Nordiques' first NHL season in 1979-80. . . . Goalie Evgeni Nabokov has started every game for San Jose and is among the league leaders with three shutouts (fourth) and a 2.01 goals-against average (fifth).

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