An optional Avalanche practice at Ball Arena on Tuesday coincided with Stanley Cup Finals media day around the building’s atrium. While some Colorado players skated with skills coach Shawn Allard, others began interviews at a handful of two-man podiums.
Avs second-line center Nazem Kadri, who underwent surgery on his right thumb last week, wasn’t seen skating and he wasn’t available to the media because of his injury status. His availability for Game 1 on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning is cloudy at best, but teammate Mikko Rantanen — a left-shot like Kadri — suggested it’s possible for a lefty to adequately perform with a damaged right thumb at some point in the series.