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Sliding Avs visit Phoenix

Feb 7, 2011 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - Though Peter Forsberg has decided to once again lace up his skates for the Avalanche, when he can make his return to the ice is still unknown.

Colorado won't have its newest addition this evening when it tries to avoid matching its longest losing streak of the season in tonight's clash with the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena.

After weeks of skating with the club, Forsberg on Sunday decided to make a return to the Avalanche after nearly 2 1/2 seasons away from the NHL, deciding endurance and chronic foot problems won't be an issue. The 37-year-old signed a deal for the remainder of this season but it is unknown when he will make his debut.

"After testing my abilities with NHL players over the last few weeks, I feel confident that I can play at the NHL level and help this team," said Forsberg, who hasn't played in this league since the 2007-08 season. "I wanted to see where I was at physically and I am ready for this new challenge."

Forsberg's decision came one day after Colorado was shut out by Anaheim, 3-0, for its third straight loss and fifth in six games. That has the Avalanche 12th overall in the Western Conference, four points out of a playoff spot.

Peter Budaj made 26 saves for the Avalanche, who lost a season-high four games in a row from Nov. 30-Dec. 7. The club begins a four-game road trip this evening.

Forward Ryan O'Reilly has missed the last seven games with a shoulder injury and is questionable for tonight.

Phoenix could prove to be a tough team for Colorado to break out against. The Coyotes are coming off a shutout victory of their own, 1-0 versus the Wild on Saturday, and have won four straight overall against the Avalanche.

That includes a pair of victories this year in Denver, a 2-0 triumph on Jan. 6 and a 5-2 victory on Jan. 26. A shift to the desert might not help Colorado as it has dropped four in a row and five of the last six at Jobing.com Arena.

Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves in Saturday's victory against Minnesota for his fourth shutout of the season and 20th of his career. He had allowed five goals in a 6-0 setback to Vancouver last Wednesday that opened a three-game homestand.

"When he was called on, he made good saves, and the team played the way we have to play in front of him," Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett said of Bryzgalov. "So it's a good first step to get ourselves going in the right direction."

Taylor Pyatt had the lone goal in the third period for Phoenix, which uncorked 41 shots en route to winning for just the third time in nine games while also snapping a five-game slide at Jobing.com Arena.

The Coyotes sit seventh overall in the West, one point back of the Ducks and just one ahead of the Kings, and have played the last two games without defenseman Ed Jovanovski due to an upper-body injury that has him questionable for tonight.