Avalanche Notebook: Kerfoot returns, Johnson begins suspension

The Colorado Avalanche will be without Erik Johnson tonight, when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Pepsi Center, as he serves the first of a two-game suspension.

Johnson was assessed a major Boarding penalty and a game misconduct in the second period Saturday when he shoved Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov from behind and into the boards. After reviewing the play, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety ruled that Johnson’s actions were worthy of a suspension. This is a case where most everybody can agree with that decision.

“It was a bad mistake on my part,” Johnson said following the team’s optional skate Monday morning. “No excuse on my end, it was kind of a dangerous play that I shouldn’t make and you know, it’s an expensive mistake.”

Expensive is correct. The hit on Namestnikov and subsequent suspension will cost Johnson a total of $64,516 when it’s all said and done, and it could have been more. Johnson was suspended two games in February of 2014, but under the league’s current CBA, Johnson is not considered a repeat offender since his previous suspension was more than two years ago. The repeat offender rule only impacts how much a player is fined, not the length of his suspension. But unlike the recent Gabe Landeskog suspension, the punishment seems to fit the crime here.

“[Capitals forward Alex] Ovechkin got two a couple years ago for a similar play” Johnson pointed out, “It’s a dangerous play when it happens the way it did and I’ll learn my lesson.”

So how do you replace someone who plays more than 25 minutes every night against the opponent’s best players? You don’t.

Johnson has been an invaluable part of this team this year, coming close to playing 30 minutes on multiple occasions, and there’s no replacement for that.

“You can’t replace a guy like [Johnson]” Avs defenseman Tyson Barrie told BSN Denver. “So, I think it’s going to have to be by committee, and I think we’re all going to have to pick up a couple extra minutes. Obviously, the Penguins have a lot of high-end talents. We’ll probably see a lot more of those guys.”

Head coach Jared Bednar echoed the sentiments of it needing to be by committee in order to be successful for the next two games without Johnson.

“Some of the defending situations you’ll see more Nemeth, Lindholm, and Barberio,” Bednar explained. “In the offensive side of it, you’ll see a lot more of Girard tonight.”

Playing the two-time defending champs is a tall task on any night, let alone when you’re without someone like Johnson. The Avs will look to take lessons away from their 2-1 win over Sidney Crosby and the Penguins from last week. We’re going to get a good look at what the Avs are made of tonight:

Projected Lineup:

Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen

Kerfoot – Jost – Yakupov

Andrighetto – Compher – Wilson

Nieto – Soderberg – Comeau

Barberio – Zadorov

Nemeth – Barrie

Girard – Lindholm

Varlamov