J.T. Compher and his linemates, Sven Andrighetto and Colin Wilson, are looking to continue the strong performances they had against Pittsburgh on Monday in the Avalanche's two-game road trip that begins Thursday in Los Angeles.

Compher scored what proved to be the decisive goal in a 4-2 win to go along with four shots. Andrighetto had two assists and four shots, and Wilson used his 6-feet-1, 221-pound frame to open up some space while contributing four shots.

"I thought our line played really well. I think we were creating a lot offensively. We can't just be a one-line team, that doesn't work in this league," Compher said after practice Wednesday.

He was referring, of course, to the Gabriel Landeskog-Nathan MacKinnon-Mikko Rantanen line, which has combined for 38 goals and 55 assists.

"We got lucky in some games where they carried us the entire way," Compher said. "The rest of us know we have to pitch in and produce and complement that line."

Compher and Wilson have battled injuries, Andrighetto a slump that has seen him go 16 games without a goal.

"l think he is back on top of his game," coach Jared Bednar said of Andrighetto, who has 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 32 games."He looks real competitive on the puck, is skating real well. It's kind of the same thing with Wilson. He's a big, heavy guy, real good (with) details, is hard on pucks. The pace of his game now that he's been back in the lineup and healthy, he's becoming a quicker player for us and in turn created more offense."

Wilson has played eight games since returning from a hip injury that kept him out of three games. He earlier missed six games with a groin injury.

"The last couple games I think I've gotten back to me game," said Wilson, who has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 24 games overall. "Play a puck-possession game, control pucks down low and be responsible defensively. We need more than one line going, so it was nice for our line to contribute offensively. Speed, a lot of good puck movement, and the guys are confident in holding onto the pucks right now."

Compher broke his thumb blocking a shot Oct. 19 against St. Louis and was out for six games. He had to wear a thumb brace that affected his play when he returned, but that's no longer an issue.

"Now that's behind him," Bednar said. "Now he seems to be getting more chances. He's earned himself a spot on our power play and we've moved him around a little bit to the flank and now to the middle. He's a right-handed shot, which we don't have many of, so he gives us an element there where he can help us score some goals and open things up for some of the other guys."

The fact that Compher has been taking more shots in recent games -- 20 in the past six games -- is evidence that his thumb has healed.

"The three of us had some good chances," said Compher, who has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 27 games. "Ghetto was flying especially on the rush and created some chances, which helps a lot."

Compher, showing off his baseball skill, batted the puck into the net Monday after Penguins goalie Matt Murray made a save on Andrighetto.

"It's not necessarily something you practice, but whatever it takes, right?" he said.

Goalie Semyon Varlamov will start against the Kings after making 30 saves against Pittsburgh.



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