Back spasms shelve Avs' Paul Stastny; considered day-to-day

When Colorado Avalanche centerman Paul Stastny left the bench area after his first shift against St. Louis on Saturday night, it was suspected that he was suffering from back spasms, an issue that has arisen more than once this season for the 28-year-old...

...and that is exactly what is happening, as Stastny missed Monday night's match with the Winnipeg Jets after conferring with team physicians.

With 47 points in 58 games played, Stastny is one of the Avalanche's top offensive threats for a team that is comfortably in fourth place in the Western Conference playoff race and just five points off the pace for the best record in the league - but with winger P.A. Parenteau out for the rest of the regular season with a torn MCL, the need for Stastny to be in the lineup is clear.

Particularly in light of Colordao's stretch schedule, which is absolutely brutal with 13 of their final 18 games against teams that currently hold qualifying seeds for the post-season, including matches against Western Conference leaders St. Louis Blues, the Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks (twice),  plus games against four of the top five seeds in the Eastern Conference.

The top line centerman was selected 44th overall by the Avalanche in the 2005 NHL entry draft and is a regular participant for the United States in international play, including last month's winter Olympic Games - and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, though he would obviously prefer to stay put.

Avs' coach Patrick Roy expects Stastny to be back in the lineup on Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, but for now he's considered day-to-day.