DENVER, COLO – It’s tough being out shot by one of the leagues leading teams, but Colorado Avalanche will have to find a bit more offense without Milan Hejduk and Peter Mueller when the Avs face the Sharks in San Jose for game five tonight.
So far in the series the Sharks have put more rubber on Craig Anderson in each of the four games, but gutsy defence and strong play from the former Florida netminder have kept the Avs in the series and tied at two games each as the teams head back to California for their fifth clash.
But the continued absence of Mueller and Hejduk will not aid the Avs cause. Mueller has not played since being sidelined with a head injury following a check from Rob Blake on April 4, when the two teams met in the regular season. Prior to his injury Mueller had notched up 9 goals and 20 points in 15 games, since coming to Denver in a deadline day deal that saw Wojtek Wolski join Phoenix.
Hejduk meanwhile missed Tuesday’s overtime loss in Denver after a collision with team mate Paul Stastny during Sundays game. Hejduk is understood to have an upper body injury, but no return date has yet been set for the veteran winger, who won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2001.
Some good news for the Avalanche is the return of Kevin Porter. The Detroit native was also part of the Wolski trade and has notched up 3 points since arriving in the Mile High City.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
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