MacKinnon out vs. Flames due to injury, flies home to be re-evaluated
The Colorado Avalanche will be without Nathan MacKinnon when they face the Calgary Flames in a key Western Conference showdown Tuesday night, and he may be out longer than that.
MacKinnon won't play due to an upper-body injury, the Avalanche announced, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. MacKinnon flew back to Denver to be re-evaluated, and head coach Jared Bednar said concern is "high," per the Denver Post's Mike Chambers.
It's unclear when and how the superstar center got hurt. MacKinnon logged nearly 20 minutes of ice time Sunday in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. He came on for eight shifts in the third period, though his final one in the last minute of regulation was only eight seconds long. He didn't play in overtime, but Minnesota won 15 seconds into the extra frame.
The 26-year-old fought Wild defenseman Matt Dumba earlier in the third period, and Bednar said Tuesday it's possible MacKinnon's injury was a result of that bout, according to Baugh.
MacKinnon has missed 15 contests this season due to injuries and COVID-19, which he contracted at the beginning of the season. He was forced to forgo the All-Star Game and four regular-season tilts after sustaining a concussion and a facial fracture.
The Nova Scotia-born forward has 22 goals and 48 assists across 51 games in 2021-22.
Colorado is also without one of MacKinnon's usual linemates, Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche captain hasn't played since March 10 because of a knee injury. He underwent surgery four days later and is expected to return for the playoffs.
The Avalanche are currently on a two-game road trip and will return to Denver to host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
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