Clark out, but Smyth ready to make return

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Evan Semon / The Rocky/2007

Ryan Smyth, right, is looking forward to getting back on the ice tonight against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center.

The injuries continue to pile up for the Avalanche, which will be without defenseman Brett Clark for an indefinite period because of a dislocated shoulder.

But there was some positive news Wednesday with the announcement left wing Ryan Smyth would play tonight against the St. Louis Blues after missing 18 games with a broken right ankle.

"I'm finally getting in and it's very exciting," said Smyth, who practiced on a line with rookie T.J. Hensick and Milan Hejduk.

"Six weeks is a long time, I guess, in the hockey world. But when you have anything broken at any point in your life, six weeks isn't that long. I'm fortunate that it recovered well and I'm really eager to get my feet wet right away."

Smyth was injured in overtime against Phoenix on New Year's Eve and wasn't expected to be able to play until March.

"I've gone through an ankle injury before, so I know the extent of it, and, hopefully, I can bring my assets to the table and try not to worry about it," said Smyth, who fractured a different bone in the same ankle in November 2001 when he played for Edmonton.

Added weapon

Smyth was on a hot streak before his injury, collecting five goals and nine assists in a dozen games, and his tenacious play in front of the net has been missed.

"He gives us a lot in what he brings to the table as far as his presence at the net, his scrappiness, his tenacious play around pucks and going into the high-traffic areas," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He gives us energy in the locker room and on the bench. He plays important minutes and he can help our power play."

Lost weapon

The loss of Clark is a major blow. He was hurt in the opening minute of the third period Tuesday in a collision with Anaheim's Ryan Carter.

Clark averages a team-high 23:09 in ice time, his five goals are the most among Avalanche defensemen, he's second among the team's blue liners with 21 points and is second in the NHL with 143 blocked shots.

"Any time you lose a guy like that, you miss him," defenseman Scott Hannan said. "We have a good group of guys back there and we can pick up the minutes. We have to get through it."

Clark's injury will give Karlis Skrastins another chance to play. Skrastins set a league record for defensemen last season when he played in his 495th consecutive game, but he was a healthy scratch three games in a row before serving as an extra defenseman Tuesday because of the injury situation.

Defenseman Kyle Cumiskey took part in his first complete practice, but he remains out with a groin injury.

He said it

"I don't think we had this many front-line players in Edmonton."

Smyth, on whether he has played on a team with so many top players who are injured.

Still on the mend

Paul Stastny has recovered from his Jan. 17 appendectomy, Quenne ville said, but the center hasn't skated for two days because of a groin injury and remains sidelined.

"He has some groin issues right now," Quenneville said. "We kept him off (the ice) and shut him down for a couple days. We'll see how he does (today)."

Captain Joe Sakic, on injured reserve after hernia surgery, did some skating on his own before practice.

"In the back of everybody's mind it's encouraging knowing that he's getting closer and that he'll be helping to inject some experience and leadership, a top hockey player, to our group," Quenneville said. "It's encouraging to see the progress he's making, and that he's not so far away."

It's Theodore again

Jose Theodore will start in goal against the Blues. He has gone 8-5-1 in his past 14 starts with one shutout, a 1.89 goals-against average and .932 saves percentage. He has limited teams to two goals or fewer 10 times in that stretch.

Numbers game

40 games without a goal for Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles since Nov. 9, when he scored at Vancouver.

sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com

Blues at Avalanche

* When: 7 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

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

* Leading scorers

St. Louis (25-22-8) G A P

LW Paul Kariya 14 35 49

RW Brad Boyes 30 15 45

C Keith Tkachuk 17 23 40

C Andy McDonald 11 26 37

RW Lee Stempniak 10 20 30

Coach:

Andy Murray

Colorado (30-22-5) G A P

RW Milan Hejduk 20 19 39

LW Wojtek Wolski 14 24 38

LW Andrew Brunette 11 26 37

RW Marek Svatos 25 6 31

LW Ryan Smyth 11 17 28

Coach:

Joel Quenneville

* Injuries: St. Louis - D Christian Backman (cracked bone in foot) and RW Mike Johnson (shoulder surgery) are on injured reserve. Colorado - D Kyle Cumiskey (groin), C Joe Sakic (hernia surgery) and C Paul Stastny (groin) are on injured reserve; D Brett Clark (dislocated shoulder) and LW Cody McCormick (chest contusion) are out.

* Sidelight: The Blues have scored in the opening 90 seconds or sooner in six games.

* Notes: The Avalanche is tied for the second-most home wins in the NHL with 18 but has lost four of its past five home games and is 3-6-2 at home since Dec. 23. . . . Opponents have scored a power-play goal in five consecutive games. . . . Wolski has no goals and eight assists in eight games. . . . Svatos has five goals and three assists in seven games. . . . Center Tyler Arnason has four goals and 12 assists in 15 games since returning from a broken wrist. . . . The Blues are 1-5-1 in their past seven road games. . . . Kariya has three goals and 12 assists in 15 games. . . . Right wing Dan Hinote has scored three of his five goals against the Avalanche.