EDMONTON, Alberta — All right, after the Avalanche’s 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, Colorado’s playoff hopes are just about, in the famous words of Dave “Tiger” Williams, “done like dinner.”
But Avalanche coach Patrick Roy wouldn’t concede that.
“You’re not going to hear that from me,” Roy said. “You know me better than that. We’re going to believe in ourselves. We’re going to continue to play hard.”
Roy previously had said he would go with Semyon Varlamov in the net both at Edmonton on Wednesday and at Vancouver on Thursday, but he said he was pondering the choice for the Canucks game after Varlamov allowed three goals on seven shots and was pulled midway through the first period against the Oilers.
“I’m going to think about it,” Roy said. “Reto (Berra) played really well. Maybe it would be a good chance for him to play (Thursday) night. We’ll see. We’ll talk with the coaches and we’ll make our decision.”
Briere out. After taking a shot on the foot at Calgary on Monday, veteran winger Daniel Briere was scratched. Center Jesse Winchester, who is on the trip after shaking postconcussion symptoms, still wasn’t activated.
On to Vancouver. The game at Vancouver will close out a stretch of five consecutive road games for the Avalanche and end a three-game swing through Western Canada. Colorado won’t have a morning skate in Vancouver on Thursday.
Rocky Hockey. Lanny McDonald, whose Hall of Fame career included 142 games with the Colorado Rockies, was named the Hall’s chair of the board, succeeding the late Pat Quinn.
McDonald will assume the chair July 15.
