VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Avalanche winger P.A. Parenteau is set to return from a 15-game absence Friday night at San Jose, coach Patrick Roy said before Thursday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

Parenteau, who hasn’t played since injuring his knee March 10 in a game against the Winnipeg Jets, again skated hard in a morning skate Thursday and is ready to go. Per team policy, injured players aren’t available to comment until the day they return.

Parenteau likely will play right wing on the second or third lines against the Sharks, probably sending Marc-Andre Cliche or Patrick Bordeleau back to the fourth line. John Mitchell, who has been playing right wing, might also go back to his third-line center role.

Avalanche forward Cody McLeod skated with the team Thursday morning and “looked good,” said Roy, who added that the rugged winger would return in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Anaheim, if not against the Sharks. McLeod has missed four games because of an ankle injury.

Footnotes. Avs defenseman Nate Guenin, 31, played in the 98th game of his NHL career. He has played in 66 this season. … Entering the game Thursday, Paul Stastny was only two assists shy of becoming to the eighth player in franchise history to reach 300 career helpers. … The hiring of “Captain Canuck” Trevor Linden as Vancouver’s team president didn’t lead to a sellout crowd Thursday. In fact, Rogers Arena appeared to be only two-thirds full. … The Avs were the only NHL team to defeat the league’s 29 other teams. … Colorado’s season-high, eight-game points streak (7-0-1) was its longest stretch without a regulation loss since 2009, when it went 8-0-2 over a 10-game span. … The Avalanche entered Thursday’s game with five 20-goal scorers, and Jamie McGinn had 19. Vancouver had one player (Ryan Kesler) reach 20.

Looking ahead: COLORADO AT SAN JOSE

8 p.m. Friday, NBCSP; 950 AM

Spotlight on Todd McLellan: Until the Avalanche’s Patrick Roy did it this season, the San Jose bench boss was the last head coach to produce 50 wins in his first NHL season. McLellan was 53-18-11 in his rookie season (2008-09) with the Sharks, becoming the fourth newcomer to reach 50. Roy could climb to second place on that list by bypassing McLellan and two others who are tied at 53. The record belongs to Boston’s Tom Johnson, who amassed 57 victories in the 1970-71 season.