Thursday, December 31, 2009

Liles Sits in the Press Box

The Avalanche are starting to get healthy again these days and with that comes some tough decisions for the coaching staff, including scratching John-Michael Liles from the line-up on Wednesday night against the Senators.

Liles has 14 points in 28 games this season from the Avalanche blueline and has some decent numbers of late, having a goal and 2 assists in his last five games, but has been a -1 in those games combined.

ImplicationsThe Avalanche were able to squeeze a 4-3 victory out of the Senators on Wednesday night, so that might mean that Benson's Draft pick may sit another game, unless the coaching staff was really unhappy with the scrambled play in their own zone late. The Avs are in Detroit tonight, so there is a good shot that Benson will have his defenseman back.

On the Sheet, Liles is listed as the Avs top defenseman and no one wanted anything to do with that, when they can have Nicklas Lidstrom or Dion Phaneuf.

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