The Colorado Avalanche updated their injury report Tuesday morning. According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, Avalanche point leader, Nathan MacKinnon along with five other players, are listed as week-to-week. Those other players include goaltender Pavel Francouz, defensemen Erik Johnson and Devon Toews, and forwards Matt Calvert and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
The latest on Nathan MacKinnon, from coach Jared Bednar: “Lower body, and he is week-to-week.”
Francouz (lower) is out week-to-week.
Johnson (upper) is out week-to-week.
Toews (lower) is out week-to-week.
Bellemare (lower) is out week-to-week.
Calvert (upper) is week-to-week.— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) February 2, 2021
Nathan MacKinnon Listed as Week-To-Week
The Avalanche top-line center and leader in points in Nathan MacKinnon is currently considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The loss for the Avalanche will not be easy to recover from. The Hart Trophy Finalist from last year currently has tallied 14 points and is tied for third in the league in that category. Sunday night’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild saw MacKinnon pulled from the game after the second period. With MacKinnon on the shelf, Jared Bednar will rely on J.T. Compher to handle first-line center duties alongside Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen.
Avalanche Depth Tested Again
Last year in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avalanche dealt with injuries at goaltending and on defence. Now, the Avalanche will explore their options at those positions once again. Goaltender Pavel Francouz was listed on the injury report as week-to-week. He’s got a lower-body injury. Francouz has not started a game this year but posted a .923 save percentage and a 2.41 GAA last season. The Avalanche have been using Hunter Miska as their backup goalie in Francouz’s absence so far.
As for their defence, the Avalanche missed Erik Johnson for most of the second round last year. Johnson, along with Devon Toews are both considered week-to-week. Toews has put up five points in just eight games this season playing alongside Cale Makar, and Johnson has just one point in four games. With Johnson and Toews out, Jacob MacDonald will get a chance to play his second game for the Avalanche tonight. Rookie, Bowen Byram will also get a chance to play on the first pairing with Makar while Toews is out.
Outside of MacKinnon, the Avalanche will be out Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Matt Calvert. With Bellemare and Calvert’s injuries, the Avalanche will start a fourth line that has a combined 131 games played and 23 career points. Logan O’Connor, Sheldon Dries and Kiefer Sherwood will all get some time in the lineup on the fourth line to prove that they can be everyday players for the Avalanche.
The Avalanche will play the Minnesota Wild at home on Tuesday night and then again on Thursday night. While they do have injuries, they’ll have to beat some tough teams to stay near the top of the division.
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