"Peter Budaj did not play his first game last season until Nov. 4. Tuesday night in Vancouver, Budaj will start for the second time this season.

Budaj, who won his first start at Detroit, will be between the pipes when the Avs play their first Northwest Division opponent of the season, the Canucks. Colorado finishes a two-game road trip Thursday at Calgary.

"I think he deserves an opportunity to get in there again," Avs coach Joe Sacco said.

Starter Craig Anderson is coming off one of his poorer performances since coming to the Avs, a 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Saturday. He played seven of the first eight games, and started a franchise record 71 last season."