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This Avalanche season has been rife with disappointment and now, with less than 20 games left to play Avs fans are due for one more gut punch. Nathan MacKinnon will miss the remainder of the regular season (6-8 weeks to be exact) with a broken foot. Unfortunately, this is not a drill:
UPDATE: Nathan MacKinnon will be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured foot.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 6, 2015
It seems hard to believe that the Avs would shut down MacKinnon so suddenly, just 2 nights after his dominant performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it sounds like this injury has been lingering:
Roy said MacKinnon took shot against Tampa Bay then again against Pittsburgh, MRI after practice yesterday
— Terry Frei (@TFrei) March 6, 2015
After a sterling rookie season which won him the Calder Trophy and saw him produce 24 goals and 63 points in 82 games, plus 2 goals and 10 points in 7 playoff games, MacKinnon has struggled this season to replicate his breakout scoring. The line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Ryan O`Reilly has been one of the lone bright spots for the Avalanche's 2nd half but with MacKinnon's injury and O`Reilly's uncertain future in Colorado, the Pittsburgh game may have been their last together as a line. MacKinnon finishes his 2014-2015 campaign with 14 goals and 38 points in 64 games. He currently leads the Avalanche in shots on goal with 197. MacKinnon's linemate, Landeskog ranks 2nd with 175.
Farewell Nathan MacKinnon, can't wait to see you back on the ice next season.
With Erik Johnson's return still undetermined (He skated for the first time today) and MacKinnon missing the rest of the regular season, the Avalanche's playoff hopes get even slimmer. If there's a silver lining, it's that maybe the Avs can use this opportunity to see players like Hishon in a wider variety of game situations...
Roy also said he plans to play McLeod with Landeskog & O'Reilly and have Hishon with Briere & Cliche vs. CBJ.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 6, 2015
Looks like that's a nope.