Avalanche coach Jared Bednar had the NHL All-Star break and the team’s designated bye week to reflect on its 3-7 skid in the last 10 games and strategize about the remaining 32 regular-season games. Changes were expected and, indeed, the Avs will have a different look Saturday night when they play their first game in 10 days.

Against the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center, top-line center Nathan MacKinnon won’t begin the game skating with fellow all-star teammates Gabe Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen at even-strength. The all-stars — a k a The MGM Line — are still together on the power play but MacKinnon will center Alex Kerfoot and Colin Wilson at even-strength, while Carl Soderberg centers a line with Landeskog and Rantanen.

Bednar consulted with MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen before making the changes.

“We need to switch things up,” MacKinnon said. “We’ve gotten stale.”

J.T. Compher replaces Soderberg on a line with Matt Calvert and Matt Nieto and rookie Sheldon Dries will skate between Sven Andrighetto and Gabriel Bourque.

MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen have combined to produce 47 percent of the Avalanche’s goals (79 of 169).

“The team hasn’t had a lot of success here recently so we’re trying something new,” Bednar said of splitting up the team’s top line. “Talked to those guys about it and they’re really open to it. So we’re trying to put some combinations together that gives us a little bit of depth and see if we can get some of those top guys to drag some of our other guys along, get us moving in the right direction and get some guys excited about playing with them. So we’ll give it a try.”

Said MacKinnon: “Kerf and Willy are awesome players. I’ve played well with Willy lots in the past. Kerf, I’ve never got to play with him but he’s such a good passer, good vision, a very good skater. Hopefully, we can bring out the best in each other. And obviously, with Mikko, Gabe and Carl, those guys are all proven — elite players. I think it’s two really good lines.” Related Articles Avalanche’s Cale Makar wins Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year

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Vancouver also had its bye week after the all-star break and hasn’t played since Jan. 23. The Canucks are tied with Colorado with 52 points but the Avs are in the final Western Conference playoff spot because they have played one fewer game.

Despite going 4-7-3 in December and 3-7 in January, the Avs are still in the playoff picture.

“We’re actually pretty positive,” MacKinnon said. “All things considered, we’re in a decent spot — not as good as what it should have been but we’re in a playoff position and we control our own destiny. We play all the teams we need to beat a lot. It’s going to be a big challenge but we’re excited.”

Footnotes. Second-year forward Tyson Jost remains the property of the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League but met with Avalanche medical personnel Friday, Bednar said. Jost, who has an undisclosed injury, has played six games with the Eagles. … Defenseman Mark Barberio skated in a red non-contact jersey Friday and remains on the injured list.