"Preseason games are like green beans and spinach. Not too exciting, not everybody's favorite, but necessary for the growth and well-being of a team. In that sense, the Avalanche came away from Tuesday night's 2-1 exhibition victory over the Dallas Stars feeling sustained. In front of a close-friends-and-relatives gathering at the Pepsi Center, Paul Stastny's two goals were the difference, and goalie Peter Budaj stopped 20-of-21 shots. The Avs improved to 2-3 in the preseason. The ongoing, main subplot to the Avs' preseason — much more than any Potemkin village win or loss — remains the fight for a roster spot among a handful of defensemen. It was a good night for two of the competitors, Jonas Holos and Colby Cohen. Cohen, a rookie from Boston University, played a solid 20 minutes, 35 seconds of even hockey, while Holos played 15:12. "They're in a battle," Avs coach Joe Sacco said. "It's a battle for that spot, and the evaluation process continues. I thought Holos had a better game tonight, and I liked Colby's (game) from his previous." Cohen, at 6-feet-2, 200 pounds, would give the Avs some size on defense — something critics say is lacking. He also has a huge slap shot from the point, but so does his former BU partner, Kevin Shattenkirk, who is also vying for a roster spot. Shattenkirk, with a goal and assist in his first three preseason games, did not play against Dallas. Kyle Cumiskey, one of six defensemen with previous NHL experience, made his first appearance of the preseason after a groin injury. If the Avs keep the six who were the leading blueliners on the depth chart at the end of last year, that leaves probably only one open roster spot among three competitors." http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_16200836
