Colorado Avalanche prima halfway Nathan MacKinnon volition miss astir 4 weeks with an upper-body injury, the squad announced connected Tuesday night.
MacKinnon near Colorado's 5-3 nonaccomplishment to the Philadelphia Flyers connected Monday. The seasoned guardant took a wrist changeable from the slot successful the archetypal period, and arsenic the puck sailed wide of the net, helium winced but remained connected the crystal and finished his shift. When helium went to the bench, the crippled broadcast showed a changeable of him favoring his near side.
"The information he's leaving aboriginal successful the crippled is not a bully sign," Colorado manager Jared Bednar said connected Tuesday, earlier learning of MacKinnon's timeline. "We cognize he's gonna miss immoderate time. Just don't cognize however long."
The defending Stanley Cup champions person been plagued by injuries this season, but MacKinnon has inactive produced. He heads into his betterment with 8 goals and 33 points, and fixed the deficiency of extent upfront, helium is averaging 22:39 clip connected ice.
Even earlier the injury, Bednar had already utilized 22 antithetic forwards successful his lineups. After the nonaccomplishment Monday, helium made notation of the team's rash of injuries, saying, "this is astir apt arsenic atrocious arsenic I tin remember."
MacKinnon is coming disconnected a standout play successful which helium skated successful 65 regular-season games, posting totals of 32 goals and 88 points. In the postseason, connected the mode to the franchise's 3rd title, helium had 13 goals and 24 points.
The shorthanded Avalanche volition participate Wednesday's location crippled against the Boston Bruins with 13 wins and 27 points. In a clogged Western Conference playoff race, they are tied for the No. 2 slot successful the wild-card standings with the Calgary Flames.
"Guys are going to person to measurement up. It's going to beryllium a challenge," Bednar said Monday. "You've got to spell retired and play hard each night, careless of the cards you're dealt."
MacKinnon, 27, the No. 1 wide prime successful 2013 and a three-time Hart Trophy finalist, agreed to an eight-year, $100.8 cardinal hold earlier the season. In the salary-cap era, it was the NHL's richest contract.
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