Tom Preissing News

There was a time when T.J. Hensick's future was a subject of optimistic, happy talk around Avalanche headquarters.

Craig Anderson tries to clear the puck along the boards as Flyers center Jeff Carter closes in.

In 2006-07, defenseman Tom Preissing tied Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom for the plus-minus lead among defensemen as a member of the Ottawa Senators, but he'll have a hard time repeating that feat this year.

Goal- tenders are definitely receiving more contact from opposing skaters than in recent seasons, with some wondering if it's time to reintroduce rules to protect them more.

No management member of a pro sports team is ever going to admit to being surprised at how well its team has played.

Paul Stastny has gone nine consecutive games without scoring a goal. Through 20 games, center Paul Stastny has four goals and 14 assists for the Avalanche.

Henrik Sedin had his first NHL hat trick and Roberto Luongo stopped 32 shots, helping the Vancouver Canucks snap a three-game skid with an 8-2 rout of the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.

Defenseman Tom Preissing was in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals after a 38-point, plus-40 season with the Ottawa Senators.

After undergoing offseason knee surgery, defenseman Tom Preissing has recovered and will soon finally be able to suit up in his first game for the Colorado Avalanche.

Milan Hejduk, who was a late scratch against Edmonton Sunday with a back problem, wasn't on the ice for the Avalanche practice this morning at Family Sports Center, but coach Joe Sacco said that primarily was precautionary and that he hoped the veteran winger would play at Chicago Wednesday night.

Van Riemsdyk, 20, who played two seasons at the University of New Hampshire before signing last spring, suffered a minor fracture of his left pinkie finger against St.

None. Penalties-Gunnarsson Tor , 4:24; Oreskovic Tor , 5:20; Evans Tor , 5:24; Peltier Le , 6:46; Preissing Le , 7:51; Deveaux Tor , 10:47; Stalberg Tor , 12:44.. SECOND PERIOD -- 1, Lake Erie, Bradford 3 , 10:50. 2, Toronto, Hanson 5 , 16:48. Penalties-Willsie Le , 7:14. THIRD PERIOD -- 3, Toronto, Stalberg 3 , 8:45. 4, Toronto, Hamilton 5 , 18:59 ...

Avalanche rookie center Matt Duchene was on the ice for the morning skate today and afterward said he would be in the lineup for tonight's game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center.

The Avalanche will be without the services of rookie T.J. Galiardi for four to six weeks.

Calgary is now riding a three-game winning streak and has looked good during it.

Faceoff: 7:30 p.m. at HP Pavilion. TV: Comcast SportsNet California. Radio: 98.5, 92.1. Head to head: San Jose opened the season with a 5-2 loss to the Avalanche on Joe Sakic Night in Denver.

When the dust settled at the end of the 2008-09 NHL season, the Avalanche found themselves 15th in the Western Conference.

Avalanche coach Joe Sacco confirmed Tuesday that backup goalie Peter Budaj, who missed his scheduled first start of the season Friday because of illness, has been diagnosed with swine flu, the H1N1 virus.

The Avalanche have been the surprise of the league thus far this season, losing just one game in regulation.

The resurgent Colorado Avalanche found themselves at a surprising 4-1-1 record, with the powerplay atop the league at a 38.4 percent success rate .