Colorado falls to Stars on night for reserves
The Avalanche played its fourth preseason game Wednesday at the Pepsi Center, losing 31 to the Dallas Stars and falling to 13 in the preseason. Dallas (401) rallied from a 10 deficit and scored two thirdperiod power play goals. Forward Sven Andrighetto and defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Mark Barberio made their preseason debuts for the Avs, who did not play most of their best forwards and defensemen. The Stars also consisted of mostly Bteam players. Three stars:
1. Ben Bishop. Stars goalie was solid.
2. Tyler Pitlick. Dallas center scored the gamewinning goal early in the third period.
3. Ty Lewis. Avs’ rookie forward had a powerplay goal.
Play of the night: It was Lewis’ goal, a redirection from between the circles that gave the Avs a 10 lead lead 13:08 into the game.
In net: Semyon Varlamov played the entire game, falling to 02 in the preseason. Newcomer Philipp Grubauer (01), who is challenging Varlamov for the No. 1 job, is expected to start Friday against the visiting Minnesota Wild.
Rookie watch: Defenseman Ryan Graves, 23, who was acquired from the New York Rangers for Chris Bigras on Feb. 26, appeared in his fourth preseason game and is the only Avs player to play in all four. … Lewis, 20, showed his eye/hand coordination by redirecting Vladislav Kamenev’s shot in scoring the Avs’ powerplay goal. Martin Kaut, 18, got the second assist on that goal. Kamenev, 22, also is a rookie.
Roster Before the game, the Avalanche reassigned eight players its new American Hockey League affiliate in Loveland — the Colorado Eagles. The Avs trimmed their roster to 36 players by sending forwards Andrew Agozzino, Travis Barron, A.J. Greer and Scott Kosmachuk, defensemen Josh Anderson, Mason Geertsen and Nicholas Meloche, and goalie Spencer Martin up Interstate 25 for the 55mile drive to Loveland.
Colorado is now carrying 20 forwards, 13 defensemen and three goalies. The Avs must get down to 23 players in the days leading into their Oct. 4 opener against the visiting Minnesota Wild.
Up next: The Avs are expected to make more reassignments by Thursday morning and will go with most of their veterans in the last two preseason games, beginning Friday against the visiting Minnesota Wild. Colorado ends the preseason Sunday at Dallas.