Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Might be available for Friday
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Girard (concussion) could return for Game 3 versus the Jets on Friday, per Adrian Hernandez of Mile High Hockey on Wednesday.
Girard has missed the Avalanche's last four contests due to the concussion. He had three goals, 18 points, 73 shots, 76 hits and 99 blocks in 59 regular-season outings. If Girard returns for Game 3, then Caleb Jones might be a healthy scratch.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Not playing Tuesday
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Girard (concussion) won't play in Game 2 versus the Jets on Tuesday, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Girard was deemed close to returning at the beginning of the playoffs, but he'll miss his fourth straight contest Tuesday. His next chance to draw into the lineup is Game 3 in Colorado on Friday. Once cleared to play, Girard will likely occupy a bottom-four role.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: To be reevaluated Tuesday
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Girard (concussion) skated in the lead-up to Tuesday's Game 2 matchup with Winnipeg, John Lu of TSN reports.
Head coach Jared Bednar didn't rule Girard out for Game 2, which would be his first action since April 13 versus the Jets. Considering the blueliner is pointless in his last 10 outings, few fantasy managers will be anxiously awaiting his return to the lineup. If Girard is cleared to play, he'll likely take the place of Jack Johnson or Caleb Jones.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Out Sunday
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Girard (concussion) will not play in Game 1 against Winnipeg on Sunday, Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Gazette reports.
Girard was considered a game-time call but ultimately wasn't healthy enough to get back in the lineup. He's now missed three straight games but could return in time for Game 2 on Tuesday. Girard finished the regular season with three goals and 18 points in 59 contests.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Could play Sunday
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Girard (concussion) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's Game 1 against Winnipeg, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Girard missed Colorado's final two regular-season games after suffering a concussion in a loss to the Jets on April 13. The 25-year-old's return would certainly help bolster the Avs' blue line -- Girard had three goals, 18 points, 76 hits and 99 blocked shots across 59 games this year.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: In concussion protocol
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Girard has been placed in concussion protocol after being injured in Saturday's matchup against Winnipeg, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Girard isn't likely to appear in the Avalanche's final two regular-season contests. If that ends up being the case, he will conclude the campaign with three goals, 18 points, 76 hits and 99 blocks in 59 outings. His status for the playoffs is unclear, but in the meantime, Caleb Jones will likely draw into the lineup Sunday versus Vegas.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Sustains upper-body injury
Rotowire
Girard suffered an upper-body injury and won't return to Saturday's game against Winnipeg.
Girard entered the contest with three goals, 18 points, 76 hits and 99 blocks in 58 appearances this campaign. If he's unable to play Sunday versus Vegas, Caleb Jones will likely draw into the lineup.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Set to play Thursday
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Girard (illness) is expected to play Thursday versus the Rangers, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Girard was considered questionable as of Wednesday, but he's apparently healthy enough to go. He has three helpers over 11 contests in March while playing in a top-four role.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Battling illness
Rotowire
Girard is dealing with an illness, according to Brennan Vogt of The-Rink.com, so he's questionable for Thursday's contest versus the Rangers.
Girard has three goals, 18 points, 68 hits and 92 blocks in 51 outings in 2023-24. If the 25-year-old can't play Thursday, then Caleb Jones will likely draw into the lineup for the first time since March 13.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Logs helper Friday
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Girard produced an assist, three shots on goal and three hits in Friday's 6-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Girard has a helper in each of the last two games following a five-game slump. The 25-year-old defenseman hasn't really picked up the slack since Bowen Byram was traded to the Sabres -- Sean Walker has shown a bit more promise. Girard is at 18 points, 65 shots on net, 65 hits, 89 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 49 appearances on the year. While his offense is lackluster, he should continue to see top-four minutes.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Garners assist Monday
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Girard logged an assist in Monday's 5-0 win over the Blackhawks.
Girard snapped a 10-game point drought when he helped out on Jonathan Drouin's first-period tally. Prior to the slump, Girard had worked his way back into fantasy relevance with 11 points across 16 contests following his return from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The 25-year-old defenseman is at 16 points, 55 shots on net, 56 hits, 78 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 42 appearances this season. He'll need to find more consistency to be trusted in fantasy.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Breaks goal drought
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Girard scored a goal on two shots and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Devils.
Girard's tally was his first since Nov. 15. He picked up nine assists over his 15 contests between goals, a span that also includes his stint in the Player Assistance Program. The defenseman has been steady in a top-four role lately, giving him appeal in deeper fantasy formats despite his limited power-play opportunities on the second unit. Girard is up to 13 points, 36 shots on net, 33 hits, 60 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating through 30 outings.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Collects assist in win
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Girard notched an assist, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 5-1 win over the Kings.
Girard set up Logan O'Connor for the opening tally at 7:44 of the first period. This snapped a three-game dry spell for Girard, his longest drought since returning from his stay in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Girard continues to see top-four minutes and time on the second power-play unit. He's at 12 points, 32 shots on net, 33 hits and 57 blocked shots through 28 outings this season.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Three helpers in Tuesday's win
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Girard delivered three assists, one on the power play, while adding one shot on net, four blocked shots, two hits and a plus-3 rating in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Senators.
All three helpers came in the second half of the game as the Avs scored five unanswered goals to erase a 4-2 deficit. Girard is having a sizzling start to January after missing over a month while in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program -- over the last eight games he's contributed seven assists, 15 hits, 20 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating. The surge has been rewarded with a spot on Colorado's second power-play unit -- Tuesday's PP point was his first of the season.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Tees up Makar strike
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Girard had an assist and a block over 18:07 of ice time in Monday's 4-3 loss to Montreal.
Girard set up Cale Makar for an early second-period goal to put Colorado up 2-1. It was the second consecutive contest on the scoresheet for Girard, who has four points (all assists) since returning eight games ago from a leave of absence. He's not usually on ice with Makar, but it was near the end of a shift and he subbed in for Makar's usual partner, Devon Toews.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Notches assist in win
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Girard had an assist, three blocked shots and two hits over 19:43 of ice time in Saturday's 5-3 win over Toronto.
Girard kept the puck in the zone and had his slapshot stopped by Martin Jones, but the rebound landed on the stick of Mikko Rantanen, who scored the Avalanche's second goal. It was the third assist in the last six games for Girard, who has one goal and seven assists through 22 contests.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Defense leads to offense
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Girard logged an assist, three blocked shots and two PIM over 17:38 of ice time in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Panthers.
After Girard blocked an attempted pass in the Colorado end, the puck bounded to the neutral zone, where Jonathan Drouin outraced the Panthers and wristed one past Sergei Bobrovsky. It was Girard's second point in four games since he returned from a personal leave.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Logs first point since return
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Girard had an assist, two shots on net, one blocked shot and two hits over 16:58 of ice time in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime victory over the Islanders.
Girard logged his first point since coming off the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in Sunday's win over the Sharks. The defenseman is skating on the third pair with Jack Johnson and getting acclimated to competitive hockey again after missing 20 games, but Girard could eventually return to a spot on the second duo with Bowen Byram.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Ready to return
Rotowire
Girard (personal) told Corey Masisak of The Denver Post on Saturday that he will return to the lineup Sunday versus San Jose. Girard was activated from the non-roster list Saturday, per the NHL media site.
Girard is projected to be back on the second pairing and second power-play unit after missing the past 20 games. He resumed practices with the Avalanche last Saturday after entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Nov. 24. Girard has picked up four points, 18 shots on goal, 25 blocked shots and 15 hits in 15 appearances this season.
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Avalanche's Samuel Girard: Not playing Friday
Rotowire
Girard (personal) will not return to the lineup in St. Louis on Friday, according to Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports.
Girard entered the NHL/NHL Player Assistance Program during Thanksgiving and returned to the ice Saturday at practice. The Avalanche have stated that Girard will return to the lineup when he is ready and that could occur as early as Sunday versus San Jose. Girard has one goal, three assists and 25 blocked shots in 15 games this season. Look for Sam Malinski to be the odd man out when Girard returns to action.
