As one Avalanche defenseman nears a return, another takes his place on the team’s long list of injuries.
Josh Manson (lower body) is considered unlikely to play Tuesday (7 p.m. MT) when the Avs host the Lightning, but he skated in a regular jersey and was a full participant in practice Monday, signaling his health after missing the last 30 games. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Manson is “close” to game-ready. The top-four blueliner sustained the injury during Colorado’s Dec. 1 win in Buffalo and returned solo to Denver with two games remaining on the road trip.
But in the meantime, fellow defenseman Erik Johnson and goalie Pavel Francouz are both out with new lower-body injuries of their own.