| | DENVER -- Already fading and ailing, the Colorado
Avalanche announced on Thursday they will be without right wing Adam
Deadmarsh for an indefinite period because of a rib injury.
| |  | |
| Deadmarsh |
Deadmarsh, who is fifth on the team with 39 points, suffered the
injury in the first period of Tuesday night's 2-1 loss in Washington and did not return.
Colorado superstar Peter Forsberg, who had
missed the last five games and the All-Star Game after suffering a concussion Feb. 1 against Vancouver, returned Thursday for the Avs' 5-5 tie with the Devils at New Jersey.
Forsberg scored two goals and assisted on another against the Devils.
The Avalanche had gone 1-3-1 without their All-Star center and
3-6-3 since a four-game winning streak, falling a point behind
Edmonton for first place in the Northwest Division and into
eighth overall in the Western Conference.
The tie pulled the Avalanche even with the Oilers with 64 points, but Colorado is third in the West because it has more wins (27) than Edmonton (21).
"I've been feeling good for a couple of days now," Forsberg said. "I
could have probably played against Washington (on Tuesday), but
when I didn't, I knew I would play today."
Forsberg and Avalanche captain Joe Sakic played in the
same game for just the 15th time this season. In 15 games
together, the two have combined for 49 points and a plus-30 rating.
Goaltender Patrick Roy was also hurt Tuesday at Washington and is listed as day-to-day after injuring his neck. Roy sat out Thursday against the Devils as backup Marc Denis stopped 27 shots in the tie.
The Avalanche recalled veteran goalie Rick Tabaracci from
Cleveland of the International Hockey League to back up Denis while Roy is out. Tabaracci, who has played in two games this season with Colorado. In 11 NHL seasons, Tabaracci has also played for Pittsburgh, Winnipeg, Washington, Calgary and Tampa Bay.
Deadmarsh, 24, has 14 goals, including five on the power play
and three game-winners. He also has 25 assists but is a minus-8
in 52 games, missing time earlier this season with a hip injury.
To take Deadmarsh's spot, Colorado recalled right wing Dan Hinote from Hershey of the AHL. Hinote has 22 goals and 21 assists
in 39 games with the Bears.
Hinote, 23, has played in 18 games during his rookie season with
Colorado, recording three assists and 10 penalty minutes. | |
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