BOURQUE, HENLEY TO BE IN LINEUP VS. COLUMBUS

Wingers Gabriel Bourque and Sam Henley, recalled from San Antonio on Wednesday, jumped right into the Avalanche lineup against Columbus on Thursday, with Joe Colborne and Cody McLeod the healthy scratches among the forwards. Also scratched was defenseman Eric Gelinas, who has been placed on waivers but likely will remain with the Avs for the foreseeable future if he isn’t claimed by Friday.

Bourque, 26, made the Avalanche on a professional tryout, and has played in 247 NHL games. Henley, 23, signed with the Colorado organization as an undrafted free agent in 2014 after playing five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the final three in his hometown of Val-d’Or. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound winger had a goal and three assists in his second season with the AHL’s Rampage.

No go on Greer.

Bednar said the Avalanche considered bringing back 19-year-old A.J. Greer for his third stint with the team this season.

“I think the culture and the message that we want to send through our organization is you get what you earn,” Bednar said. “He was up here, he played real well for us, we like what he did, but he didn’t have a great weekend in San Antonio. Craig Billington (assistant general manager) was there last weekend and he saw the guys that are playing hard, providing what we’re looking for here.”

NHL debut.

Henley said his mother, Manon, was coming in from Val-d’Or for the game.

His dad, Rock, can’t fly because of health reasons. “But he’s going to be watching, for sure,” Henley said.

Considering that Henley wasn’t drafted, played an over-age year of major junior, and in the AHL has been a plugger rather than a scorer, he has beaten considerable odds to get an NHL look.