Avalanche's Samuel Girard set to return Saturday night vs. Oilers

The Colorado Avalanche will have defenseman Samuel Girard back in the lineup on Saturday night for the first time since March 8, according to The Athletic’s Peter Baugh. Girard’s return comes at a good time for Colorado, who were already missing Ryan Murray on the left side before seeing Devon Toews go down Friday night after blocking a shot against the Winnipeg Jets. Although Toews is expected to be OK after the shot block, it’s unclear if he will have to miss any time.

Getting the 23-year-old Girard back in the lineup also helps to lengthen an already stellar Avalanche defense group as the team looks to get into a groove heading into the playoffs. Colorado is currently first in the entire NHL with 108 points, two ahead of the Florida Panthers, and 13 points ahead of the Calgary Flames for the top spot in the west. After a career year in 2020-21 with 32 points in 48 games, Girard has taken a small step back, having 27 points in 56 games this season. But has been a steady and reliable presence on the back-end for a dominant Avalanche team.

Here are more injury notes...

• There is positive injury news out in the desert, as Arizona Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny announced that defenseman Janis Moser is on the Coyotes’ road trip and is now considered day-to-day for the team. It’s unclear when exactly Moser, who has not played since March 15, will return, but having the young defenseman return to finish out the season would be much-welcomed for Arizona. The Coyotes also expect prospect Jack McBain to make his NHL debut soon, says Tourigny. McBain, whom the Coyotes acquired from the Minnesota Wild on March 21, and signed on March 23, has been unable to play due to injury. Tourigny points to Arizona’s games at Vancouver and Calgary next week, or the following week at home as possible dates of McBain to debut. The 22-year-old spent this season and three prior as a standout for Boston College in the NCAA.
• Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Philip Broberg is expected to return from injury within the next two weeks for the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL, says Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic. Broberg, who has split time between Bakersfield and Edmonton, has been out since March 18. Another Oilers prospect, Dylan Holloway, did not play last night and is expected to be out at least through this weekend, says Nugent-Bowman. A return timetable is not yet clear for Holloway, however, Nugent-Bowman does believe that Holloway will make his NHL debut before the end of the season. The 14th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by Edmonton, Holloway has eight goals and 13 assists in 32 games this season for Bakersfield.
• From Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, defenseman Jake Walman is out of the lineup Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets with an upper-body injury. Walman has been a reliable defenseman for both the Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues this season, coming to Detroit from St. Louis in the Nick Leddy trade back in March. No timetable for Walman’s return has been made available yet.