The Colorado Avalanche’s playoff troubles deepened Sunday night as they dropped into a 3-0 series deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 5-3 defeat in the Western Conference finals, and now their top scorer Nathan MacKinnon may be sidelined with injury.
MacKinnon, who scored a league-leading 53 goals during the regular season, hurt his right leg in Sunday’s game after blocking a one-timer from Shea Theodore with his right knee late in the second period, with less than eight minutes remaining.
The star forward collapsed to the ice immediately and clutched his right leg after the puck struck the side of his right knee directly. Despite being down on the ice, he managed to clear the puck beyond the blue line but couldn’t stand up, prompting officials to halt play for medical attention.
MacKinnon left the ice on his own despite limping and tried to continue playing, taking two additional shifts before heading to the locker room late in the second period due to his injury.
During the final period, MacKinnon managed only one regular-strength shift, though he did participate in a power play situation and during a 6-on-5 scenario when Colorado pulled their goaltender in the final minutes.
Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood praised MacKinnon’s determination after the game, saying: “You might have to kill him to get him off the ice. Just kind of the person he is, the competitor he is. He obviously proves that every time he’s on the ice. He wants to win more than anybody. Just another example.”
Head coach Jared Bednar provided no injury update during his post-game media session regarding MacKinnon’s availability for Tuesday’s Game 4, when Colorado will be fighting to avoid elimination.
The 30-year-old MacKinnon has recorded points in nine of Colorado’s 12 playoff contests, including an assist in the first period of Sunday’s game, bringing his postseason total to 15 points on seven goals and eight assists.
MacKinnon’s injury occurred in the same contest that saw star defenseman Cale Makar return to action after missing the series’ first two games due to an upper-body injury.
