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Sakic likely to return; Foote, Wolski hurting

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 23, 2008 at 10:25 p.m.

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Avalanche at Ducks

* When: 8 MST tonight.

* Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.

* TV/radio: Altitude; KCKK-AM (1510).

* Leading scorers

Colorado (9-10-0)GAPts
C Paul Stastny41317
RW Milan Hejduk9615
C Joe Sakic21012
LW Wojtek Wolski21012
LW Ryan Smyth5510
D John-Michael Liles268

Coach: Tony Granato

Anaheim (11-8-3)GAPts
C Ryan Getzlaf81826
RW Corey Perry 71724
RW Teemu Selanne101020
D Chris Pronger41014
LW Chris Kunitz31013
D Scott Niedermayer3811

Coach: Randy Carlyle

* Injuries: Colorado - C Ben Guite (ribs) is on injured reserve; D Adam Foote (back, neck) and Wolski (head) are day to day; Sakic (back) is probable. Anaheim - D Francois Beauchemin (knee) and LW Brad Larsen (sports hernia) are on injured reserve.

* Sidelight: Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj will make his 10th start in a row. He has stopped 196-of-206 shots in his past six starts, a .951 saves percentage. He's also 4-0 in shootouts.

* Notes: The Avalanche lost both visits to Anaheim last season, one in overtime and the other in a shootout. . . . Colorado has won three of its past four road games. . . . The Avalanche went 2-for-5 on power plays Saturday in Los Angeles after going 2-for-34 in the previous eight games. . . . The Ducks have gone 2-3-2 in their past seven games and 1-3-1 in their past five home games.

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It looks like a go for Avalanche captain Joe Sakic.

The 39-year-old center, who has missed five games in a row because of a back ailment, practiced again Sunday and is expected to play tonight against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center.

But defenseman Adam Foote (back, neck) and left wing Wojtek Wolski (head) didn't skate Sunday after suffering injuries Saturday in the Avalanche's 4-3 shootout win in Los Angeles and are iffy tonight.

Foote was facedown on the ice for several minutes in the second period after being checked from behind into the boards by John Zei- ler. Foote eventually was able to get to his feet and needed help leaving the ice.

Zeiler was given a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.

"There's hits and there's stupid hits," Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere told reporters. "And it's up to us players to police ourselves, to take those players out of the game before someone gets killed or paralyzed."

Wolski was hurt in the third period on a hit by Sean O'Donnell. Wolski was losing his balance as he skated near the end boards and O'Donnell hit him with his right elbow. Wolski's head smashed against the boards and he lay on his back for several minutes. He was woozy while being helped off.

Foote and Wolski will be re-evaluated today.