ST. LOUIS – The Colorado Avalanche enjoyed a spirited morning session on Scottrade Center ice as they prepare to take on the St. Louis Blues tonight to finish their two-game road trip. The Avalanche are coming off an impressive 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild and hope to continue exorcising their demons tonight against the Blues.

Happy to be back on the ice with his teammates after missing two months due to a nagging injury, Avs forward Sven Andrighetto is feeling much better about life now that he is participating in the playoff race.

“It was really tough,” the 24-year-old winger admitted. “Very frustrating, too. We did everything we could in our power to get back as fast as possible. I ended being out that long. It was frustrating but I had to stick with it. I enjoyed watching the games, how they played was great, but I just wanted to be out there with them.”

He’s already making a difference with his play. He recorded an assist on the power play in the win over the Wild, giving him seven power-play points on the year, tied with Tyson Jost for seventh on the Avs despite appearing in just 40 games so far.

“It’s really exciting,” Andrighetto told BSN Denver. “Even when I was out, I was watching the games on my toes. Every point matters. Right now, we’re playing meaningful hockey, which is exactly what we wanted. We put ourselves in this position but we’re not at our goal yet. We want to reach the playoffs.”

After conquering one demon in beating the Wild in Minnesota, the Avalanche now turn their sights towards trying to topple the Blues in St. Louis. Currently sitting in the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Avs are looking to extend their lead on the Blues to five points and potentially put a dagger in their playoff hopes.

“Coming in here is never easy,” Andrighetto said. “They’re really good in their barn. We want to do the same thing we did in Minnesota. We want a good start. The whole team played, all four lines, with speed and put them under pressure and dictate the game even though we’re away from home. They’re battling with us for these points so it’s going to be a tough one.”

As the Avalanche head down the stretch, one thing about this year’s group has become obvious – they really like each other. Being around a team all season, you get a sense of how close a team is or is not. This year’s group comes to the rink every day with a certain joy not seen in teams of year’s past, even those competing for playoff spots. Andrighetto says the youth movement is the biggest factor in bringing the room together.

“We’re a lot younger. I believe we’re the youngest team in the NHL. We’re so close in age, we have the same interests. It’s the tightest group I’ve ever been a part of in my whole career. It’s been amazing. We all fight for each other.

We do [enjoy each other’s company]. We like coming to the rink every day. That’s a huge part of our success so far. We’re one team. It’s been fun and while we work hard, competition is always great.”

The Avalanche coaching staff has encouraged competition all season, not just for jobs or playing time but among each other during practice. It’s manifested into an identity for this team as the thirst for winning has taken over the locker room. The team’s greatest joy, however, comes in taking two points from opposing teams.

If Colorado can take the two on the line in St. Louis tonight, it will continue it’s demon-slaying ways while also setting them up in a strong position to make the playoffs as they get to the final ten games of the regular season.

News and Notes:

• Semyon Varlamov will get the start tonight against the Blues but his status for tomorrow against Nashville is undetermined. Head coach Jared Bednar said they will see how Varlamov feels after tonight and in the morning. If he doesn’t go, Spencer Martin will make his first start of the year.
• David Warsofsky took a hard fall during morning skate. He was slow to get up and shake off whatever was bothering him but it won’t keep him from the lineup tonight.
• There are no other lineup changes tonight.
• Jonathan Bernier still has not been cleared to play after being diagnosed with his second concussion in the last month.
• Vladislav Kamenev was absent from practice in San Antonio today, according to Nathan Mallett of Running With the Herd. The Rampage play tomorrow night and it would be the final game of eligibility for Kamenev’s conditioning stint and assuming his recovery remains on track, he will be a candidate to play Sunday against Detroit. If his absence means he’s already left San Antonio, he could be a surprise candidate to play tomorrow against Nashville.  Just something to keep an eye on as the day progresses.