Minus superstar center Nathan MacKinnon and head coach Jared Bednar, the Avalanche on Wednesday was champing at the bit to open the 2021-22 season at home.
“Ready to rock,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said after the morning skate at Ball Arena, where the club will host the Chicago Blackhawks at 8 p.m. in a nationally televised game on TNT. “It’s an exciting day.”
The Avs are 100% vaccinated from COVID-19, but Bednar tested positive late last week and MacKinnon had a positive test on Monday. Colorado’s bench on Wednesday will be run by assistant coaches Ray Bennett and Nolan Pratt and skills coach Shawn Allard.