Grubauer gets consecutive starts

The Avalanche plays at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in its first matinee of the season. The Avs enter the third game of their fourgame trip 101 and coming off a 53 triumph Thursday at the New Jersey Devils.

They began the trip with a 32 shootout loss at the New York Rangers.

Saturday’s game is the first of 13 day games for the Avs, who held a brief practice Friday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.

What to look for: Backtoback starts.

Goalie Philipp Grubauer (11) is scheduled to make his second consecutive start. He made 27 saves on Thursday in New Jersey. Semyon Varlamov (302) is expected to start in net Monday when the Avs conclude their trip at the Philadelphia Flyers.

Statistically speaking.

Entering Friday’s games the Avs were a Western Conferencehigh plus8 in goalsdifferential, tied for second in the league behind New Jersey (plus11). And Colorado was tied for third in regulation/overtime wins (ROW) with four. … Carolina is averaging 42 shots a game, which leads the NHL.

Roster moves.

The Avs practiced Friday without new forward Marko Dano, who was claimed off waivers from Winnipeg on Monday. Dano remains caught up with immigration issues but is expected to join his new team as early as Saturday. In anticipation of that addition, rookie forward Sheldon Dries was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.

Coming up.

Colorado will depart for Philadelphia after Saturday’s game and settle in for Monday’s game against the Flyers, whom the Avs defeated 52 on Oct. 6 in Denver. Colorado begins a twogame homestand Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning before hosting the Ottawa Senators on Friday.