Morning skate notebook: Yak is back

Hello from the press room of the Pepsi Center. Avs host the Devils, the Devils, the Devils! tonight, 7 p.m., be there or not be there.

A couple of news items from the skate:

• Nail Yakupov gets a top-line left wing assignment tonight, replacing Sven Andrighetto, who moves to the fourth line. Yak will skate with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. My take: Not sure this is as much a promotion for Yak’s recent play as it is a demotion for ‘Ghetto. In fact, Jared Bednar did say that ‘Ghetto’s play just hasn’t cut it of late. But I think it’s a good opportunity for Yak to get some confidence from this and he certainly has the skill to play with MacK and Rants.
• Colin Wilson is day-to-day with some kind of undisclosed injury. Bednar wanted to play him tonight, but he’s holding off for another couple days. He could return Sunday against the Stars.
• Patrik Nemeth skated in a non-contact jersey. Nemeth has a back injury. Bednar said he should be able to take contact very soon.
• With five goals and 15 assists, Nathan MacKinnon is your No. 1 star of the month for November in the NHL.
• Semyon Varlamov gets his second straight start in goal for the Avs, who will try to avenge what was their first loss of the season, in Newark against the Devils, Devils, Devils!