Physicality as a style of play is said to go further in the NHL playoffs, and the Avs don’t have a surplus of big bodies who fit that mold.
So it comes as a massive relief to Jared Bednar and his team that defenseman Josh Manson will be ready to return from a lower-body injury in Game 1 of the first round.
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Manson won’t play in the Avalanche’s final two games before the playoffs, meaning his regular season is over with 27 games played. The first time he plays since March 1 will be playoff action. He said there were “definitely points” that he was concerned he wouldn’t be able to return this year.
“I’d be lying if I said those thoughts didn’t come through my mind,” Manson said Thursday before the Avs’ home game vs. Winnipeg.
Manson’s return, if it is coupled with Cale Makar’s, will mark the healthiest and deepest Colorado’s blue line has been all season. The last time the Avs’ top five defensemen were all in the lineup for a game together was Nov. 5 in Finland. Since then, at least one of the five — Makar, Devon Toews, Manson, Sam Girard and Bo Byram — has missed every game.
Manson missed 31 games starting in early December, returned for give games in February then reaggravated the injury March 1 vs. New Jersey.
“I’ve gotta get some practice reps,” Manson said. “It’s been a little tougher with the end of this season’s schedule. I think the right timing is for Game 1.”
Artturi Lehkonen is also returning from injury, but he’ll be in the Avalanche lineup Thursday (6 p.m. MT) to get his conditioning back before the playoffs. He has missed 15 games with a broken finger that he sustained in Montreal, where he scored twice in his first road game against his former team.
Bednar said he’s unsure if Makar will travel with the team to Nashville for Friday night’s regular-season finale. The coach also said if the division is decided when the Avs get off the ice Thursday night, he might make on-the-fly decisions to keep some players home from the one-day trip.
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