Bourque dons an “A” for Avs
Quebec-born journeyman forward Gabriel Bourque, who began the season in the minor leagues, donned an “A” on his chest for the third consecutive game Wednesday when the Avalanche hosted the Montreal Canadiens.
Bourque, 27, is coach Jared Bednar’s second choice to replace Nathan MacKinnon as alternate captain. MacKinnon missed his seventh game with a shoulder injury Wednesday and fellow forward Blake Comeau missed his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury. Comeau previously replaced MacKinnon with the “A,” and Bourque has stepped into the leadership role for Comeau.
“I never really expected the ‘A,’ especially after the start of this season,” Bourque said after Wednesday’s morning skate at the Pepsi Center. “It’s a big promotion, and I’m pretty happy about it.”
Bourque, who was among Colorado’s final cuts coming out of training camp, is currently in his second call-up stint from San Antonio of the American Hockey League. He has played 31 games for the Avs, including the past 19.
“He plays the right way every day, every game, every practice,” Bednar said of Bourque, who previously was a regular contributor for the Nashville Predators. “He sacrifices his body on the penalty kill and plays a big role in that department. As the year goes on and he starts getting in the lineup a little bit more, (he) becomes more vocal on the bench and you listen to what he says and the respect he has from our leaders. That was the main factor for me in giving him that ‘A.’ They all look up to him. They want him in the lineup.”
Developments. The Avs on Tuesday night recalled San Antonio forward Rocco Grimaldi because forward Matt Nieto suffered an injury after Tuesday’s practice. With MacKinnon and Comeau shelved, Bednar needed a 13th forward in case Nieto couldn’t play against Montreal. Grimaldi was traveling Wednesday and didn’t make the morning skate, but it turned out he wasn’t needed because Nieto was cleared.
To make room for Grimaldi, the Avs placed MacKinnon on injured reserve, retroactive from Jan. 30. MacKinnon could be activated as soon as Thursday.
MacKinnon and Comeau participated in the morning skate, both donning red noncontact jerseys and looking like they’re on the cusp of returning to the lineup.
Defenseman Duncan Siemens, who was recalled Tuesday from San Antonio, trading places with rookie Andrei Mironov, was a healthy scratch for the Avs, along with Grimaldi.
Footnote. The Canadiens, who ended Colorado’s 10-game winning streak with a 4-2 win Jan. 23 in Montreal, started backup goalie Antti Niemi. It was Niemi’s 12th appearance of the season. … The Avs’ Sven Andrighetto (leg), Mark Barberio (lower-body) and Vlad Kamenev (arm) remain shut down from skating with injuries.