"Second-year Avalanche center Matt Duchene returned to practice today and said he should be close to 100 percent for Thursday night's season opener against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.

Duchene, who centers a line with Milan Hejduk and David Jones, missed Tuesday's practice because of an illness.

"I just had the 12- or 24-hour flu," Duchene said. "I feel better now. I'm ready to go."

Hejduk, who didn't skate last week because of a sore back, participated in his second consecutive practice, but this time without an orange no-contact sweater.

"I'm fine," Hejduk said.

Colorado coach Joe Sacco put his squad through a fast-paced 90-minute workout. He said it was good to end it with Duchene and Hejduk together on the ice.

"They're both fine. They both look great," Sacco said. "We had three good days of practice to get us ready for Chicago, and now its real time. I think the guys are excited. The preseason is over. Now it's time to get the real deal going.""