Keith Ballard, left-winger? It could happen today when the Vancouver Canucks meet the Colorado Avalanche in a matinee game in Denver.

The Canucks will definitely be without regular portsider Chris Higgins, who is ailing and remained behind when the team flew out Friday after-noon. They were attempting to summon Byron Bitz from the AHL Chicago Wolves but were uncertain, before their departure, if Bitz would be able to get to Denver due to snow issues.

If Bitz doesn't make it, a defenceman will have to play up front. Andrew Alberts was the nominee Thursday night when Higgins was a late scratch in the 4-3 shootout loss to Detroit. The Canucks haven't been carrying an extra forward, but do have two extra blue-liners.

"Bally's been harassing me lately and says he's a great left-winger if I need him," said Canuck head coach Alain Vigneault, allowing himself a little smile. "So I tried him [Fri-day] at practice. I thought he looked all right. We'll see what happens."

Ballard skated on the third line with Cody Hodgson and Jannik Hansen during a brief practice at Rogers Arena. The Canucks only skated for half an hour as they moved their charter flight up 90 minutes in an attempt to beat the snow.

Ballard says he is comfortable on left wing and played there from time to time when he was a Phoenix Coyote.

"It was the same situation, we had a lot of defencemen there," Ballard explained. "So I went back and forth quite a bit actually during games. A couple of times I played full games up there ... you know, chip it in, forecheck, bump into a few guys. I played forward on the penalty kill a little bit, played in front of the net on the power play a little bit."

Higgins, meanwhile, does not have another staph infection, according to Vigneault.

"Chris is still feeling under the weather so we're going to keep him behind," Vigneault said. "When he feels better, we're going to have him join the team. I think our doctors believe the antibiotics he's been taking because of this staph infection are affecting his immune system a little bit and it might be easier for him to catch the flu bug than some-one else right now."

Bitz, a one-time Nanaimo Clipper, has one goal and three points in 10 games with the Wolves. He's a big body at 6-5 and 215 pounds.

NET WORTH: The Canucks are 2-0-0 against Colorado this season, both victories by scores of 3-0 and 6-0. Cory Schneider recorded the first goose egg while Roberto Luongo and Schneider shared the second one after Bobby Lou came up lame in the second period. Luongo will get the start this time.

BOOTH REVIEW: Winger David Booth insists he won't be looking for payback against Avalanche forward Kevin Porter after the latter put him out for nearly six weeks with a knee-on-knee hit Dec. 6. Porter received a kneeing major and game misconduct for the first-period incident and was subsequently suspended four games by the league.

"I really haven't thought about it much," Booth said Fri-day. "I've been forgetting about it and coming to the rink every day just being glad to be on the ice. I mean, I don't think he was trying to put me out, I think he was trying to break up the play."

Interestingly, those 15 penalty minutes collected by Porter marked his first time in the sin bin all season. He hasn't taken a penalty since. By the way, there is no guarantee Porter will be in the Avs' lineup as he is a depth player and not a regular.

SUPER SUNDAY: Assuming the Canucks can fly out of Denver following the game, they'll be in Nashville for Super Bowl Sunday. Boston native Cory Schneider said he'll accept any wagers on his home-town New England Patriots, who face the New York Giants. "It's pretty quiet," said Schneider, sounding almost disappointed. "I'm not afraid to bet anyone on the Pats and I think I'd make money if I did. But it is what it is. I'll say Patriots 27, Giants 21."

Alex Burrows doesn't appear prepared to challenge the supremely confident Schneider.

"I am taking the Pats this time around," Burrows said. "I think they're going to bounce back from their last Super Bowl against the Giants. If Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez [tight ends] are there, I'm pretty sure they are going to get it done. I think the Pats' offence can march the field any time they want. Maybe [Chad] Ochocinco will have a long bomb thrown to him. I'd like to see that."