CENTENNIAL - There was a new but familiar face at the Avalanche's practice Wednesday.

And Scott Parker and his 6-foot-5, 230-pound body will be in the lineup for the first time since 2003 tonight when the Avalanche visits the Chicago Blackhawks (7, Altitude).

One of four first-round Avalanche picks in the 1998 draft, Parker rejoined his first NHL team Tuesday when the Avalanche traded a sixth-round pick in 2008 to get him from San Jose.

The likeable tough guy will add a physical presence as the Avalanche attempts to put together a playoff push.

"I'm happy to be back here and hope I can help out in any way I can," said Parker, for whom the Avalanche obtained a fifth-round draft pick in that 2003 deal with the Sharks. "I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to the future."

Ian Laperriere merely is looking forward to getting some help protecting his teammates on the ice.

"I'm happy," said Laperriere, who leads the NHL with 15 fighting penalties this season. "I'm the happiest man in the room."

Laperriere had been warned about Parker's firm handshake, so he hugged Parker before practice.

Parker and Laperriere got into a scrap a few seasons ago, but both acknowledged it was just part of the job.

"I jumped him once because he hit Ziggy Palffy," Laperriere said. "I jumped him, I grabbed him and slipped.

"Fighting is part of our game. There are emotions, cheap shots, and you get popped. You don't see the person; you just see the player. It's my job to fight and if I don't do it, I'll lose my job. But after a fight, sometimes we go out the same night we fought."

Avalanche coach Joel Quenne- ville understands Laperriere's happiness.

" 'Lappy' was out there a lot of nights on his own handling a lot of the tough stuff," Quenneville said. "He can still bring that element knowing that there is an added element there that will make his job - I don't want to say easier - but maybe more enjoyable.

" 'Lappy' is more of a player than a heavyweight. Scott will certainly add some size and toughness to our group. It's a need that sometimes is necessary."

New NHL rules have reduced but not eliminated the need for tough guys such as Parker, who has fought to earn respect around the league.

"Fighting might be down, but it's still much needed," Parker said. "Two big guys go out there and duke it out, everybody enjoys it, and it calms everybody down.

"Respect is something I worked real hard for back in the day. If I can keep guys at bay by just yelling at them or looking at them weird, it's good. I can keep the knuckles going for a few more years."

Still, he would someday love to talk about his hockey skills instead of his fight prowess.

In 273 NHL games, he has recorded 19 points on six goals and 13 assists while accumulating 623 penalty minutes.

He did have 30 goals and 52 points one season for Kelowna in the Western Hockey League and hopes to someday exploit that potential.

"I definitely think my best years of hockey are still ahead of me," said Parker, 29. "I'm looking forward to the challenge, and I think this is the team to do it with."

Quenneville hinted any offensive production the team gets from Parker would be a bonus.

"We'll see how comfortable we are in different situations, knowing that primarily I'm not looking at him to be a producer as long as defensively he is dependable and reliable," Quenneville said. "I think gauging him on that aspect will probably determine how much ice time he gets."

Avalanche at Blackhawks

• When: 6:30 MST tonight.

• Where: United Center, Chicago.

• TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

• Leading scorers

Colorado (30-29-5) G A P

C Joe Sakic 27 48 75

LW Andrew Brunette 24 39 63

C Paul Stastny 22 37 59

RW Milan Hejduk 24 26 50

LW Wojtek Wolski 19 21 40

Coach: Joel Quenneville

Chicago (23-31-9) G A P

RW Martin Havlat 24 25 49

RW Radim Vrbata 9 26 35

C Tuomo Ruutu 13 19 32

D Duncan Keith 2 25 27

C Jeffrey Hamilton 14 12 26

Coach: Denis Savard

• Injuries: Colorado - D Patrice Brisebois (back surgery), D Jordan Leopold (broken left wrist) and C Pierre Turgeon (calf) are on injured reserve; D Karlis Skrastins (right knee) is out. Chicago - C/LW Michal Handzus (knee), LW Tony Salmelainen (hip) and D Jim Vandermeer (broken ankle) are on injured reserve; D Cam Barker (ankle) and Havlat (flu) are day to day.

• Sidelight: Colorado will bring the NHL's third-best power play (21.6 percent) into tonight's game, while Chicago has the league worst power play, converting on only 11.6 percent of its power-play chances. The Avalanche is 18-for-48 (37.5 percent) on the power play in the past 12 games.

• Notes: Peter Budaj will start in goal for the Avalanche. . . . Colorado has lost four consecutive road games and seven of the past eight away from the Pepsi Center. . . . Chicago has lost six of its past seven games, but the Blackhawks are 2-1 against Colorado this season. . . . Stastny has a 13-game points streak (eight goals, 11 assists) and Brunette has scored in 11 consecutive games (five goals, 12 assists). . . . Mark Rycroft has not dressed for 11 of the past 19 games but he has a three-game points streak and has scored goals in the past two games.

bentonj@RockyMountainNews.com

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