Smyth out with sprained ankle

Aaron J. Lopez

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Ryan Smyth wasn't able to ring in 2008 with a bang. It was more of a painful limp.

The Avalanche forward has a sprained ankle and will not play tonight when Colorado concludes a home-and-home series against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Pepsi Center.

Though Smyth is out indefinitely, the news could have been worse after he was injured during Colorado's 4-3 shootout loss to Phoenix on Monday night. X-rays taken Tuesday were negative, ruling out any fractures.

"We'll see how it responds to treatment over the next little while and we'll give you a better idea (of a possible return date) then," coach Joel Quenneville said.

Smyth, who has 11 goals and 17 assists, was injured on the first shift of overtime Monday night. Quenneville sounded doubtful Smyth would be able to return Saturday against the New York Islanders but hoped he could accompany the team when it begins a five- game trip Jan. 8 in Detroit.

It was the second piece of bad news the Avalanche received in four days. Captain Joe Sakic had hernia surgery Friday and is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.

"It's something that's a good test for us," forward Andrew Brunette said. "We have some guys in here who have some leadership skills. They've all got to pick it up another notch. Everybody's got to find a way to play a little bit better and bring leadership to the team."

To add depth up front, the Avalanche recalled rookie forward T.J. Hensick from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. Hensick had a goal and two assists in 12 games with Colorado last month.

Brunette and Wojtek Wolski are the leading candidates to take Smyth's left wing spot alongside center Paul Stastny and right wing Milan Hejduk on Colorado's top scoring line.

Brunette played less than 12 minutes Monday night but set up Wolski's first-period goal that gave the Avalanche its only lead of the game.

Colorado managed to force overtime with a late third-period goal but was unable to beat Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov in a shootout. Bryzgalov stopped 42 of 45 shots in regulation and overtime.

"There's no trick to solving goalies," Avs defenseman Scott Hannan said. "Just shoot the puck, get traffic and make sure you get second and third opportunities. Shots are going to go in eventually. He can't stop everything."

At the other end of the ice, Colorado goalie Peter Budaj made 23 saves, and he will start again tonight for the ninth time in the past 10 games.

lopezaa@RockyMountainNews.com

Coyotes at Avalanche

* When: 7 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

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

* Leading scorers

Phoenix (18-18-1) G A Pts

RW Shane Doan 19 20 39

RW Radim Vrbata 16 12 28

D Ed Jovanovski 3 20 23

C Steve Reinprecht 8 13 21

C Martin Hanzal 3 17 20

Coach:

Wayne Gretzky

Colorado (21-15-3) G A Pts

C Paul Stastny 15 29 44

RW Milan Hejduk 15 15 30

LW Ryan Smyth 11 17 28

LW A. Brunette 6 20 26

LW Wojtek Wolski 13 12 25

Coach:

Joel Quenneville * Injuries: Phoenix - LW Daniel Carcillo (sprained knee) and RW Craig Weller (concussion) are on injured reserve. Colorado - Smyth (sprained ankle) is out; C Tyler Arnason (wrist), C Joe Sakic (hernia) and D Kurt Sauer (neck) are on injured reserve.

* Sidelight: The Avalanche sputtered into 2008, losing three in a row. The Coyotes could be just what the Avalanche needs: They haven't won in regulation at the Pepsi Center since Oct. 30, 2000. Colorado is 9-0-1-1 against them there since then.