When referring to more than one player, it is normal to use Heat players or Avalanche players (although in the latter case the team's plural-form nickname Avs is also available).

He also missed Detroit's first game in Denver, in which two Avalanche players, Rene Corbet and Aleksei Gusarov, left the ice on stretchers.

Opinions differ among the Avalanche players.

Less than 24 hours after the Avalanche players staved off elimination by beating the Devils, 4-0, in Game 6, they arrived home excited about the opportunity they had created.

But Buchberger, who started the Oilers' scoring in the first period with a shot into an unguarded net after Smyth knocked an Avalanche player into Roy, tied it.

During the lockout, many Avalanche players played in European leagues.

The players went through hockey's gracious ritual of the handshake line, and then Woolley forced himself to watch the Avalanche players hoisting the cup.

But some top Avalanche players, including Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg, were said to be stunned that two well-liked teammates were leaving.

If it wasn't for an Avalanche player who was close by, Bertuzzi might have killed Moore.

Several Avalanche players talked after Colorado's 3-1 victory in Game 3 Thursday about what an inspiration Joe Sakic was.