Avs acquire Dubnyk in trade with Sharks

After injuries to their top two goaltenders derailed the Avalanche in the playoffs last year, they’re loading up on depth in net in hopes of making a deep run this season.

The Avs acquired veteran goaltender Devan Dubynk from the Sharks on Saturday in exchange for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft. Dubnyk and March trade pickup Jonas Johansson give the NHL-leading Avalanche some insurance in net behind starter Philipp Grubauer, with their sights set on the Stanley Cup.

“We saw last year how important goalie depth is in the playoffs,” coach Jared Bednar said. “To be able to acquire the two guys that we’ve acquired here recently, I think it just makes our team deeper and stronger.”

Dubnyk, 34, has 26 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience during his career, all with Minnesota. This season, he has a 3.18 goals-against average and .898 save percentage for the struggling Sharks.

„ The defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning acquired defenseman David Savard from the Blue Jackets in a three-team trade Saturday that also involved the Red Wings. The Lightning gave up a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 third-rounder to the Blue Jackets for Savard and sent a 2021 fourth-rounder to the Red Wings. The Blue Jackets retained half of Savard’s $4.25 million salary-cap hit and the Red Wings got involved to pick up a quarter of it to help the cap-strapped Lightning.

„ ■ The NHL says the Canucks will reopen team facilities Sunday and resume play Friday after a COVID-19 outbreak in which 21 players and four staff members tested positive for the virus. The Canucks’ next game will be their first since March 24. They still have 19 players on the league’s COVID protocol list.

NBA: Hawks guard Tony Snell is expected to miss at least two games, including Sunday’s game at Charlotte, with a right ankle sprain.