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Avalanche look to end slide vs. Lemieux, Sharks

Jan 27, 2009 - 2:33 PM San Jose (34-6-5) at Colorado (23-23-1) 9:00 p.m. EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Colorado Avalanche hope to reverse their losing ways in the second half beginning with a meeting against an old friend.

The Avalanche return to the ice following the All-Star break when they continue a season-high, eight-game homestand against Claude Lemieux and the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Colorado lost four of its last five games in regulation before the All-Star break, including a 6-5 setback against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

The loss dropped the Avalanche to last place in the Northwest Division, two points behind the Minnesota Wild (23-20-1).

Colorado should receive a boost from David Jones and Ian Laperriere, who are set to return from back injuries against the Sharks.

But, San Jose will also have its newest member in tow after Lemieux made his season debut during a 2-1 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks last Tuesday.

The 43-year-old, who spent parts of five seasons with the Avalanche from 1995-2000 and won the Stanley Cup there in 1995-96, had not played in an NHL game since May 2003 when he was a member of the Dallas Stars.

The Sharks hope Lemieux's extensive postseason experience will rub off on a team that has exited in the second round of the playoffs each of the last three campaigns.

Lemieux won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1985-86 before winning the title in 1994-95 and 1999-2000 with the New Jersey Devils.