Game 4 Morning Skate Notebook: Is a flu bug running through Avs?

Greetings from the Pepsi Center, where Game 4 happens tonight (8 p.m.).

The lineup stuff: Derick Brassard (ill) and Sam Girard (upper body) again will not play tonight. Girard did skate in a non-contact jersey, while Brassard was nowhere to be seen.

Jared Bednar also said that there could be a change or two in the forward lines from the last game, that they would be “game-time decisions.” Yes, he used the plural. The Avs aren’t saying anything, but it’s possible there is a flu bug going around the team. I’ve noticed a few guys have had a lot of sniffles and hoarse voices the last couple days.

Or, a guy or two could be banged up worse than we know with something. There were rumors that Mikko Rantanen was nearly a scratch last game, but he was out there in a regular jersey this morning. Matt Calvert also may be dinged up. He hasn’t been practicing much lately.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see before the game what’s up.

About Brassard: He took a really hard hit near the end of Game 2. I hope it’s not a concussion or something. The team says he’s ill and that’s it, though, and they don’t try to mislead about injuries usually.

Bednar said the same defensive pairings will be in effect tonight.

This is obviously going to be a very tough and desperate Calgary team tonight. I don’t expect another 56-shot night for the Avs. They’re going to really try and take away the time and space of the top guys, and probably try to play a very physical game. The Avs have to keep their heads up out there.

But the Avs say they want to keep playing the same way. They want Calgary to have to keep adjusting their game to them, not vice-versa.

I have a couple of interviews for you to listen to from the room this morning: Tyson Barrie and Cale Makar. Enjoy:

Makar, on the aftermath of Game 3 and what it’s all been like:

Barrie, on expectations for Game 4 and how Makar may eclipse his team scoring records soon: