Avs' Grubauer starting vs. Flames after 5-game absence

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer will return to the crease Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, the team announced.

Grubauer, 27, has missed the club's last five contests with a lower-body injury he sustained earlier this month.

Netminder Pavel Francouz, who suffered a head injury Nov. 12, has also been cleared to return and will assume backup duties Tuesday.

The Avalanche weathered the storm with Grubauer sidelined, posting a 4-1-0 record in his absence while receiving steady play from Francouz and rookie puck-stoppers Antoine Bibeau and Adam Werner.

Through 11 starts this season, Grubauer has authored a 6-3-2 record with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.

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