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PHILADELPHIA — The Avalanche couldn’t afford another injury, especially one of this magnitude.
Nathan MacKinnon exited Colorado’s game against the Flyers in the first period Monday. He did not return to the bench for the remainder of the period and was being evaluated as the second period began, a team spokesperson told The Denver Post. There has been no further update.
It is unclear what MacKinnon injured or how, but he appeared to be in discomfort after firing a shot during an Avalanche power play. Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton also checked him into the boards at one point.
The Avs (13-8-1) were already rolling out their most unusual lineup of the season. Since the start of their four-game road trip, they have lost Josh Manson (week-to-week) and Artturi Lehkonen (day-to-day) to injuries, adding to a mountain of absent skaters. MacKinnon started the game in Philadelphia surrounded by Andrew Cogliano and Logan O’Connor, a pair of wingers who flanked Colorado’s third line when the season began.
Top-line winger Mikko Rantanen was split up from MacKinnon, spearheading a line with Alex Newhook and new call-up Charles Hudon. Newhook scored the game’s first goal while playing with the top power play unit. But the Flyers soared to three consecutive goals against the depleted defending champions.
Colorado is also missing Valeri Nichushkin, Evan Rodrigues, Gabriel Landeskog, Bo Byram and Darren Helm, plus rookies Jean-Luc Foudy and Shane Bowers.
MacKinnon has 33 points in 22 games this season. He is only one assist behind Connor McDavid’s 26 for the league lead. The star center signed an eight-year, $100.8 million contract extension in September, which will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL starting next season with an average annual value of $12.6 million.
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