I Hear That Train a-Comin’

The injury train is making it’s annual stop in Colorado. This, more than anything, was the downfall of the Avalanche of the 2008-09 season. The train arrived earlier this year than it has the last couple of years, but it’s just been just as effective. Cody McLeod, Darcy Tucker, JM Liles, and now TJ Galiardi have all been out for multiple games this year, not to mention Tom Preissing, one of the players we got in the Jordan Leopold trade who we haven’t even seen play yet. Luckily, Liles should be back tonight vs. the San Jose Sharks, but the Avs announced that Galiardi is going to be out of the line-up for the next 4-6 weeks.

So we haven’t lost the star power that we did last year to injury (Paul Stastny, Joe Sakic, and Ryan Smyth) *knock on wood* but the guys we’ve lost have all been playing solid hockey for us to start the season. Liles has been an effective powerplay quarterback and McLeod, Tucker, and  Galiardi have provided hard-nosed, defensive hockey with an offensive spark. These key losses haven’t affected our win/loss ratio yet, but you’ve got to believe that it’s going to start taking a toll.

However, everything starts and ends with Craig Anderson. As long as he can continue to carry this team, we can fight through this injury epidemic with a measure of success.

FYI, Anderson WILL be starting tonight against the Sharks, not Peter Budaj. Also, Colorado has recalled Philippe Dupuis from the AHL to replace Galiardi. Dupuis has four points in nine games this season for the Lake Erie Monsters.