Watching another goalie take over his net hasn't been easy for Jose Theodore. But the Avalanche goaltender has his spot back -- at least for a game. Theodore will return to goal Sunday afternoon against the Red Wings, breaking Peter Budaj's string of 12 consecutive starts.

Avalanche defenceman Patrice Brisebois will miss the remainder of the regular season with a back injury, the team said Sunday in a statement.

Jordan Leopold is ready to return to the Colorado Avalanche, but fellow defenseman Patrice Brisebois will need more time to heal. The Avalanche on Friday activated Leopold, who has missed 42 games, and placed Brisebois on injured reserve.

Peter Forsberg has generated lots of interest among NHL teams looking to add a veteran scorer. Flyers GM Paul Holmgrem said he's been contacted by a number of teams about Forsberg leading up to the Feb. 27 NHL trading deadline. But Holmgrem denied a Denver television report that the Swedish star has been given permission to speak to the Avalanche about returning to his former team. The 33-year-old Forsberg is in the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are already thinking about their next All-Star game together. There should be plenty more chances for the young sensations. Maybe next time, they won't be overshadowed on the ice. While Crosby and Ovechkin were the main attractions in the league's first midseason showcase since 2004, the night belonged to one of the NHL's old stars. Colorado's Joe Sakic, making his 12th All-Star appearance, had four assists to lead the Western Conference to 12-9 victory Wednesday night. "It was a wide-open game with a lot of goals," said Sakic, who captained the West squad. "I don't know what more you want."

The people in Colorado apparently like their hockey. The Avalanche reached an impressive milestone Saturday, when their game against the Red Wings became the 500th home sellout since the team arrived in 1995. Colorado made it happy occasion by posting a 3-1 victory.

Center Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche and left wing Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers have been named team captains for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, Wednesday, Jan. 24 at American Airlines Center in Dallas (8:00 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio), the National Hockey League announced today. Sakic will lead the Western Conference and be making his 12th career All-Star game appearance. Shanahan will represent the Eastern Conference and be skating in his eighth All-Star Game.

Avalanche rookie Paul Stastny insists he isn't angry about being overlooked for the NHL's Young Stars Game next week. "That's not really important to me," Stastny said after scoring two goals -- including the game-winner -- in Colorado's 4-3 victory over Phoenix 4-3 Wednesday night, ending the Coyotes' six-game road winning streak. "I don't really care about that."

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their best offensive defenseman for approximately four weeks. John-Michael Liles suffered a broken left foot in the first period of Saturday's 2-1 shootout win at Minnesota.

The Minnesota Wild have done well without left wing Marian Gaborik. Now, they hope to do even better. After missing 34 games with a strained groin, Gaborik returned to the lineup Saturday for Minnesota's contest against the Colorado Avalanche.