Avalanchedefenseman Samuel Girard, who mi sed the last three games of Colorado's first-round series against the Flames with an upper-body injury,will return for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Friday in San Jose.Sam Girard is ready to return to the lineup. x- Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) "It happens, some injuries, but they take care Jessie Lemonier Jersey of me," Girard said Thursday () after he practiced wearing a regular jersey for the first time since he was injured on an open-ice hit by Flames Detroit Lions Pet Gear forwardSam Bennett."The staff did a great job, so I'm ready to go for the next game. It's tough (not playing), I'm not going to lie, you always want to play, it's so nice being in the playoffs. When you're watching the games you want to be on the ice and help the team to win. I'm very happy to be back (Friday)."Girard was part of Avalanche's top pair on defense, playing the left side opposite Erik Johnson, when he was injured.Ian Cole took his place while he was out, butAvalanche coach Jared Bednar wouldn't say whathis plans were for Game 1 against the Sharks."Our pairs tend to switch a little bit," Bednar said. "We have set pairs and they start together and they play together. Whether we're Hunter Bryant Jersey up in games or down in games we try to get certain guys more ice time. Matchups are loosely based, but we have some guys who take a lot of pride in their defending and defending mentality and their penalty kill, and we have some puck movers who can really get up the ice and help us on the offensive side."Girard is one of three Avs defensemen who fall in the offensive side of the ledger,withTyson Barrie and rookie Cale Makar.In his second season in the league, Girard had 27 points (four goals, 23 a sists) in 82 regular-seasongames Will Holden Jersey , includingfour points (one goal, three a sists) in three games against the Sharks.The Avalanche have seven healthy defensemen and could scratch one against the Sharks or play them and use 11 forwards, according to NHL.com.The Sharks, meanwhile,are likely to be without captain Joe Pavelski for Game 1.The veteran forward suffered ahead injurywhen he took a cro s-check from Golden Knights forward Cody Dan Campbell Jersey Eakin and a subsequent bit of contact from Paul Stastny in San Jose's 5-4 overtime Game 7 win over Vegas on Tuesday.Coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Thursday he would call him "day-to-day."