In an expected elimination game for the Avalanche on Monday night, a trusted and respected player who helped the team advance will return to the lineup.

Defenseman Patrik Nemeth, who played in 74 of 82 regular-season games and the whole first-round playoff series against Calgary, will make his Western Conference semifinal series debut in Game 6 against San Jose at the Pepsi Center.

“I got to be ready to go,” Nemeth said after the team’s skate, when he wasn’t 100 percent sure he had made the lineup.

Coach Jared Bednar confirmed Nemeth would play in his news conference that was ensuing. He’ll use one extra defenseman (seven) and one fewer forward (11) against the Sharks, who lead the series 3-2 and will advance to the Western Conference finals with a victory. If Colorado wins Monday, the Game 7 will be Wednesday at the SAP Center in San Jose.

When asked what his group has missed from Nemeth in the last five games, Bednar said: “Shot blocking is. Penalty kill. He’s been good for us all year. ”

Nemeth was the odd-man from the deep blue line because of the arrival of newcomer Cale Makar and Sam Girard’s return from a shoulder injury. Makar made his NHL debut in Game 3 against the Flames — the first of three games missed by Girard.  When Girard was cleared to play in Game 1 against San Jose, the Avs were forced to scratch a normal defenseman to make sure they could play with four full lines (12 forward ).

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Nemeth, a stay-at-home defender with offensive skills, will probably be utilised in the penalty kill and defensive-zone faceoffs. He could take D-zone faceoffs and then come to the bench and allow Makar or Girard to jump on for the offensive attack.

“Regardless of the way the lineup is organised, who’s in and who’s out, we only got to make sure we get to a better game,” Avs defenseman Ian Cole said. “‘Nemo’ is a great hockey player and when he’s back in I have all the faith in the world in him and his ability to step up. ”

Nemeth, 27, likely won’t be with the Avs following season. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $2.5 million cap hit this year.

Colorado is poised to visit the younger Ryan Graves, 23, to play Nemeth’s role next year, and the group already has six defensemen under contract for 2019-20 (Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie, Cole, Mark Barberio, Girard, Makar) and it will undoubtedly want to resign restricted free agents Nikita Zadorov and Graves.

Forward Sven Andrighetto will be scratched to allow Nemeth to perform. Forward Matt Calvert, who has missed two of the past three games with an injury, remains unavailable.

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