Nathan MacKinnon could return for the Colorado Avalanche this week, coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday.
The center has missed the past nine games with an upper-body injury.
“We’ve got to see him coming out of this (holiday) break here,” Bednar said on Altitude 92.5 FM in Denver. “He’ll continue to skate. And hopefully between now and New Year’s, he could get back in the lineup. That would be a little bit ahead of schedule but sounds like he’s knocking on the door here.”
MacKinnon is not expected to play at the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday (9 pm ET; BSAZX, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW). Colorado finishes the week with home games against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, which could be the most realistic target for MacKinnon’s return.
MacKinnon had 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) in 23 games and was on pace for his first 100-point season at the time of the injury, which occurred during a 5-3 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 5. The initial The timeline said MacKinnon would be out four weeks.
“I think you give ‘Nate’ a timeline and he’s going to beat it every time,” Bednar said. “That’s kind of the way he is, which is great news for us.
“This guy wants to play and wants to compete. That’s just the way he’s built. You know, his injury isn’t an easy one to come through. So no, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s going to be back just a bit ahead of the timeline by the looks of things.”
The Avalanche (19-11-2) have won four consecutive games and are 6-2-1 since MacKinnon’s injury.
In addition to MacKinnon, Colorado is also without forwards Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Darren Helm (hip), Valery Nichushkin (upper body), Shane Bowers (upper body) and Martin Kaut (upper body), defensemen Bowen Byram (lower body) and Josh Manson (lower body).
Goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) did not travel to Arizona. Jonas Johansson was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League to back up Alexander Georgiev.
“‘Frankie’ got hurt and isn’t feeling great, so he’ll probably get a bit of time,” Bednar said. “I don’t know the extent of his injury just yet, whether it’s day to day or week to week.”
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