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An Avalanche of injury woes in Colorado

Patrick Roy, Cody McLeod

Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy, back, reacts after his team gave up a goal to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014. Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod, front, looks on from the team box. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Associated Press

It’s not getting any easier for the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche continue to occupy last place in the Central Division, a sign of the regression many who believe in advanced statistics thought was going to happen. Now, Colorado is dealing with a rash of injuries, forcing them to recall three players - Andrew Agozzino, Ben Street and Tomas Vincour - from Lake Erie in the American Hockey League.

According to the Avalanche, there are eight players now out of the lineup due to injuries. You might say this dilemma is starting to snowball.

Alex Tanguay was the latest casualty. He took an Alex Ovechkin shot to the face and suffered a facial fracture as a result.

“He texted me last night after the game and said that he will try and come back as soon as possible,” head coach Patrick Roy said Friday, as per the club’s website. “Knowing Tang, I know he has the success of the team at heart. He knows that he is an important player, and he will do whatever he can to come back as soon as possible.”

That’s a tough loss for the Avalanche right there. The 35-year-old Tanguay - and this might be a sign of the times and struggles in Colorado right now - leads the Avalanche in goals with seven.

Perhaps the good news is goalie Semyon Varlamov is only listed as day-to-day with a groin injury, suffered earlier this week. Although, because it’s a groin injury, the good news still comes with caution.

It’s not so promising beyond that.

Rookie forward Dennis Everberg (shoulder) is also out. Roy didn’t have any specific timeline for him, other than he’s out for “awhile,” according to the club.

Defenseman Ryan Wilson (shoulder surgery) is out for the season. The club has listed Patrick Bordeleau (back), Brad Stuart (hamstring) and Jesse Winchester (head) as out indefinitely, and forward Jamie McGinn (back) was still being evaluated.

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