- Samuel Girard may not be taking part in the rest of the playoffs but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to leave his teammates alone. According to Mike Morreale of NHL.com, the injured defenseman was at yesterday’s morning skate after being released from the hospital and is in “good spirits” according to head coach Jared Bednar. Girard suffered a broken sternum in game three, but he was able to watch his club secure a game four win and a stranglehold in their second-round series against the St. Louis Blues. There is no official timeline released for Girard’s recovery but he will not return even if the Avalanche advance.