Andrighetto thrilled to be back with team after injury

CHICAGO» Sven Andrighetto is just happy to be here.

Sure, he would have rather been in the lineup Tuesday night in Chicago, but the Avalanche right wing at least got to travel with the team for its two-game road trip against the Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets. That hadn’t been the case since he injured his leg in a collision with the Pepsi Center boards Dec. 31.

Andrighetto said he definitely misses playing the most, but being around the team has been a close second. He was one of the last players to leave the ice at the end of the morning skate Tuesday at the United Center.

“It’s two months I was out and basically not really around the team, not going on road trips and being with the guys,” Andrighetto said. “That’s really fun, being with the guys in the dressing room and going on the road.”

He was initially listed as day to day before being put on injured reserve, and he remains there, although coach Jared Bednar said “there’s a chance” he could play Thursday at Columbus.

Andrighetto said he’s stronger now than he was before his injury. He has spent plenty of time training in the gym and said his ailing leg has not impeded his off-ice workouts. All that’s left is to get the green light from the medical staff and coaching staff, and Bednar said he is “close” to getting the nod from both.

“We’d like to get him in a few more practices,” Bednar said. “The timing of the game and how fast things are going to happen for him on the ice after missing over a month is going to be his biggest adjustment.”

Andrighetto played in 37 of Colorado’s first 38 games and has six goals and 12 assists. He can still top his career highs in games played (44) and goals (seven), which he set with Montreal in 2015-16.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Avs were 16-8-3 since Andrighetto’s injury, but they’re eager to have him back on the ice.

“Anytime you can get someone back in the lineup, it adds some energy to the team,” left wing J.T. Compher said. “He’s very skilled, a hardworking hockey player. It’ll be good to have him back.”

It’s been a while.

Colorado hadnot made its first visit to Chicago so late on the calendar since the lockout-shortened 2013 season. Quite a bit has changed since the Avs came to town last March.

The last time, moribund Colorado allowed five goals in the third period and lost 6-3 as the Blackhawks closed in on the Central Division title. Now, the Avs are playoff contenders while the Hawks were deadline sellers.

“We’re excited. This is what we wanted,” Bednar said. “We wanted to be playing important games at the end of the season and give ourselves a chance to get in, and we have that.”

Status quo in goal.

Bednar opted for the same lineup Tuesday that he deployed Sunday in an overtime loss to Nashville. That meant defenseman Mark Alt was out and goalie Semyon Varlamov got his ninth start in a row.

Bednar left the door open for goalie Jonathan Bernier to start Thursday. Bernier hasn’t played since suffering a concussion Feb. 16 at Winnipeg, but he has made it through practice and participated in Tuesday’s morning skate.