CHICAGO — It’s a tall enough order to beat the Chicago Blackhawks when fully healthy. It will be that much taller for the Avalanche to try and do Tuesday night when it plays without another top player.

Paul Stastny will not play for the Avs when they take on the defending Stanley Cup champions at the United Center. Stastny was still bothered enough by a leg injury suffered Saturday night against the Wild in Minnesota to be able to play.

Stastny spent part of the morning riding a stationary bike and pedaled vigorously. But Avs coach Patrick Roy updated the media soon after by saying his alternate captain and top-six center would be a scratch.

Roy, therefore, will play seven defensemen against Chicago. One of them will be Tyson Barrie, whose shoulder has healed up enough to play again.

Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for Colorado, which was routed the last time the Avs played here, the day after Christmas.

“It’s going to be a good challenge for us. We’re going to have to be ready for these guys, there’s no doubt about it,” Roy said.

Adrian Dater: adater@denverpost.com or twitter.com/adater