Sam Malinski didn’t need a heart-to-heart, in-depth meeting. He got the message.
Malinski, a healthy scratch for the past three games, returns to the lineup Wednesday night in a pivotal Central Division showdown against the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena.
“He’s back in because we just got a handful of games and he’s taken a break and had a reset,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “I want to see him play a good, solid 200-foot hockey game. He’s got to get involved on the offensive side of it. I think he can help there. And he’s got to be a solid defender and puck mover.