Andre Burakovsky (hand) keeps 'making progress,' should be 100 percent for Colorado Avalanche

DENVER — Andre Burakovsky is close to feeling 100 percent again, days ahead of the Colorado Avalanche facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

The Avalanche forward blocked a shot off his hand in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers, forcing him out of the next two games. He returned for Colorado's series-clinching Game 4 victory — replacing the injured Nazem Kadri — but it wasn't until the last couple of days that Burakovsky felt near full recovery.

«I felt pretty good on the ice today,» Burakovsky said after Monday's practice. «We've been doing good, doing a lot of treatment and making progress.»

That's what the Avalanche are hoping for. Kadri has been sidelined with a broken thumb since Game 3 against Edmonton and his status for the Final is murky. Burakovsky stepped onto the Avalanche's second line for Game 4 and skated with Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher in Monday's practice.

That unit could see a lot of Tampa Bay's checking line, headed by the shutdown talent of Anthony Cirelli. If that's the case, Burakovsky & Co. will have their hands full.

"[Cirelli] is great. He plays on the right side of the puck all the time," Rantanen said. «He makes the right plays always. So we just have to try to play with our strengths, and try to try to find a way to get a couple goals there, and also defend well because they can score obviously, too. He's a good shutdown forward for sure.»

Having Burakovsky at his best will only improve Colorado's prospects. While Burakovsky likely can't match Kadri in output — he has five points this postseason to Kadri's 14 — Burakovsky will find his own way to fill the void.

«We know Naz is a great player for us and brings a lot,